BEIRUT (AP) 鈥� Lebanon鈥檚 new prime minister on Saturday formed the country鈥檚 first full-fledged government since 2022.
President announced in a statement that he had accepted the resignation of the former caretaker government and signed a decree with new Prime Minister forming the new government.
Salam vowed to 鈥渞estore confidence between citizens and the state, between and its Arab surroundings, and between Lebanon and the international community鈥� and to implement reforms needed to bring the country out of an extended economic crisis.
鈥淩eform is the only path to a true salvation,鈥� he said in a speech on Saturday.
He also promised to follow up on implementation of a ceasefire agreement that ended the most recent war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group and political party Hezbollah in late November and to ensure that Israeli forces 鈥渨ithdraw from Lebanese territory until the last inch.鈥� He pledged to ensure reconstruction in areas that suffered destruction during the war.
Salam鈥檚 cabinet of 24 ministers, split evenly between Christian and Muslim sects, was formed less than a month after he was appointed, and comes at a time where Lebanon is scrambling to rebuild its battered southern region and maintain security along its borders.
Lebanon is also still in the throes of a crippling , now in its sixth year, which has battered its banks, destroyed its state electricity sector and left many in poverty unable to access their savings.
Salam, a diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice, has vowed to reform Lebanon鈥檚 judiciary and battered economy and bring about stability in the troubled country, which has faced numerous economic, political, and security crises for decades.
New government marks a shift away from Hezbollah
Though Hezbollah did not endorse Salam as prime minister, the Lebanese group did engage in negotiations with the new prime minister over the Shiite Muslim seats in government, as per Lebanon鈥檚 power-sharing system.
That was despite comments by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus who said in a speech in Beirut Friday that Washington had 鈥渟et from the United States鈥� that Hezbollah would not be 鈥渁 part of the government.鈥� The comments drew backlash from many in Lebanon who saw them as meddling in internal Lebanese affairs.
Lebanon鈥檚 new authorities also mark a shift away from leaders that are close to Hezbollah, as Beirut hopes to continue improving ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations that have been concerned by Hezbollah鈥檚 growing political and military power over the past decade.
In early January, former army chief Aoun was elected president, ending that position鈥檚 vacuum. He was also a candidate not endorsed by Hezbollah and key allies.
Aoun has shared similar sentiments to Salam, also vowing to consolidate the state鈥檚 right to 鈥渕onopolize the carrying of weapons,鈥� in an apparent reference to the arms of Hezbollah.
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Associated Press journalist Abby Sewell contributed to this report.
Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press
