Reports indicate that Nohad Salam, President of the International Court of Justice, has secured sufficient backing from lawmakers to be appointed as Lebanon's next Prime Minister, surpassing incumbent Najib Mikati. This selection represents a significant challenge to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed political party.
Lebanon's newly elected President Joseph Aoun is currently consulting with parliamentary blocs to designate an individual tasked with forming a new government, which faces substantial challenges ahead. Salam is likely to be officially appointed following these consultations.
Salam has garnered support from 84 lawmakers, compared to the 9 backing Mikati, the caretaker Prime Minister, according to statements made by parliamentarians after exiting the presidential palace where consultations are ongoing. The 84 votes exceed the majority of the 128-member parliament, enhancing the likelihood of Salam's appointment.
As of yet, lawmakers from the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, who are expected to endorse Mikati, have not arrived at the presidential palace. The competition has narrowed in recent hours to a contest between Mikati and Salam, a seasoned diplomat currently presiding over the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Salam has received backing from opposition blocs to Hezbollah, as well as from the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and the Free Patriotic Movement led by Gibran Bassil, a former ally of Hezbollah.
The parliamentary consultations are mandated by the constitution and follow Aoun's election as president, amid external pressures, particularly from the United States and Saudi Arabia, which have recently re-engaged with Lebanese politics after a prolonged withdrawal due to Hezbollah's dominance over Lebanese decision-making.
Mikati has led his government for over two years during a presidential vacancy, a period characterized by deepening economic collapse and a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel. He maintains good relations with various political forces and has external ties with multiple entities.
However, Mikati's opponents and those against his reappointment argue that he is part of the previous political establishment that Hezbollah controls. They believe that changing the internal power dynamics, following Hezbollah's recent setbacks in its conflict with Israel and the fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in neighboring Syria, necessitates appointing a new figure.
Opposition forces, including the Lebanese Forces bloc and several smaller groups, announced their decision to nominate MP Fouad Makhzoumi for the premiership. However, Makhzoumi, a wealthy businessman with strong ties to Gulf countries and the United States, withdrew his candidacy to reach a consensus on Salam.
Supporters of Salam view his potential premiership as an opportunity to reform official institutions and implement broad objectives declared by the newly elected president, who has pledged to initiate a 'new phase' where the state monopolizes the use of force, and all Lebanese citizens are subject to the judiciary and law.
According to the Lebanese constitution, the president appoints the prime minister based on the results of parliamentary consultations, and the candidate receiving the most votes is tasked with forming a government. However, appointing a new prime minister does not guarantee the swift formation of a government, as this process often takes weeks or even months due to political divisions and competing demands in a country structured around power-sharing.