Lebanon’s new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (L) speaks with the country’s outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati during their meeting in Beirut [Getty]
Lebanon’s designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has initiated two-day parliamentary consultations on Wednesday to gather input from lawmakers over the formation of a new government following a years-long political stalemate.
The consultations were boycotted by MPs from the Amal Movement and Hezbollah parliamentarian formation, the Development and Liberation bloc, over alleged “external pressures” that led to Salam’s designation as the new premier.
Saudi Arabia, France, and the US were viewed as possible players behind the scenes dealings that saw Salam selected among Lebanese parties as the next prime minister, sidestepping the Hezbollah-Amal bloc which expected Najib Mikati to be given the designation.
MP Qassem Hashem of the Amal Movement confirmed that lawmakers from the bloc would be absent during the consultations, with anger still lingering among the Shia-dominated parties about the apparent clandestine appointment of Salam as PM.
“Firstly, these are non-binding consultations, and secondly, we are boycotting to make a political stance,” he told The New Arab‘s Arabic language service Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
“It is the right of any political group to adopt a position that reflects its vision and direction.”
A Hezbollah source added that the boycott was “not an obstruction” but it viewed the designation of Salam as “external interference” and part of broader efforts to “marginalise” the group.
“There is blatant external interference in the electoral process, and we cannot remain silent about it,” the source said.
“Our stance is not directed against Salam as we have no problems with him, but the issue lies in the political moves that are seeking to exclude or cancel us.”
The non-binding parliamentary consultations began early on Wednesday with Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, although they were supposed to begin with Speaker Berri, as well as other parliamentary blocs.
The consultations are expected to continue on Thursday, with input from independent MPs.
After his meeting with Salam, Deputy Elias Bou Saab said: “I informed the designated prime minister that I have no specific demands; the key issue is how he performs and collaborates with President Joseph Aoun to form a government that inspires hope among all Lebanese who are seeking a new model.”
Bou Saab emphasised that “Prime Minister Salam is open to all factions and in communication with everyone. He has no intention of excluding anyone. At the same time, he has the responsibility to show the Lebanese people that change is coming.”
MP Mark Daou, from the Change Bloc, said that the discussions focused on the structure and mechanism to be used to form the new government.
“We hope to see a smaller government, without political quotas, without fixing the roles of lawmakers and ministers, and with as much representation of women as possible,” Daou said.
“We also emphasise the importance of focusing on tasks and achievements as the new government would have only one year and three months to make a significant impact,” he added, in reference to planned elections in 2026.
Daou stressed the importance of implementing the ceasefire agreement, which ended a Hezbollah-Israel war in November.
“This must include a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, border control and demarcation and the disarming of militias,” he said.
MP Taymour Jumblatt, from the Democratic Gathering Bloc, emphasised the importance of communication with other blocs and the need to open dialogue.
“No one can cancel the other, as we’ve seen in the past. We hope that pressures and demands on Presidents Aoun and Salam will be reduced so they can form the government,” said Jumblatt, who is the son of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.
After accepting his nomination on Tuesday, Salam pledged to begin work “immediately” to build “a new Lebanon”, promising immediate action to address the challenges facing the crisis-hit country.
“My hands are extended to all to set off together on this mission of rescue, reform and rebuilding,” he said in his first speech as premier, after Hezbollah and Amal did not back his nomination.
“I am not of those who exclude but those who unite,” he said, calling for a “new chapter” in Lebanon.
Hezbollah had objected to any suggestion of Salam as premier in the past, but the armed group has been weakened by a war with neighbouring Israel that ended with a ceasefire in November.
Before becoming premier, Salam was presiding judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
In multi-confessional Lebanon, nominating a premier does not guarantee a new government will be formed imminently. The process has previously taken weeks or even months due to deep political divisions and horse-trading.
