Lebanon: New Government Formed

Following months of deadlock, Prime Minister Najib Mikati formed Monday a 30-member Cabinet with a majority of ministers from the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition. United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams congratulated Mikati and ”expressed hope that the new government would implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s international commitments.” A Druze leader has already quit the coalition, citing discrimination against his sect. One Lebanese analyst observes that the cabinet marks a victory for Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement (part of the March 8 Coalition). He cites Richard Chambers of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (click for here the IFES summary): “It is noteworthy that there are no women in the proposed cabinet… In line with the Constitution, (Article 64.2), the proposed Cabinet now has 30 days to prepare and present its proposed Policy Statement to the Chamber of Deputies. If the Policy Statement gains the approval of a majority of the 128 Deputies, the Government will be formed. If not, then the Prime Minister may choose to resign, or may seek to nominate a new Cabinet, or may seek to nominate the same Cabinet but propose a new Policy Statement.” The appointment of former internal security forces head Marwan Charbel to the controversial Interior Minister post was reportedly due to Aoun’s wrangling with President Michel Suleiman.