Lebanon Forms 30-Member Gov’t

Local Editor

The line-up of a 30-minister Lebanese cabinet was announced on Sunday at the Baabda Presidential Palace, bringing together most of the political spectrum except for the Kataeb [Phalanges] Party that refused to be represented by a state minister.

New portfolios include an anti-corruption post and, for the first time, a minister of state for women.

"This is a national unity government... and it will immediately start to address as much issues as it can during its term that will not exceed a few months, topped by the problems of waste, electricity and water," said Prime Minister Saad Hariri in a speech at the Baabda Palace after the line-up was declared.

"Politically, the first mission of this government, in cooperation with the parliament, will be to reach a new electoral law that takes proportional representation and correct representation into consideration, so that the parliamentary polls can be organized on time," Hariri added.

"Accordingly, this government can be considered an elections government," the PM went on to say.
Hariri was nominated to form the government on November 3.

The announcement followed a meeting at the Baabda Palace between President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

The Kataeb Party refused to take part in the cabinet after it was offered a state minister post, media reports said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team