Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced the composition of his government on Saturday from the Baabda Palace. Who are the new ministers?
Vice President of the Government: Tarek Mitri
Tarek Mitri, former minister and one of the architects of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, was part of four governments between 2005 and 2011, holding the portfolios of Environment, Administrative Reform, Culture, Information and Foreign Affairs. He also served as interim foreign minister.
He currently holds the position of president of Saint George University of Beirut.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Joe Rajji
Joe (Youssef) Rajji is a diplomat who built his career within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being appointed ambassador to Jordan.
Minister of Defense: Michel Menassa
Michel Menassa is a retired senior officer of the Lebanese Army, having held various roles within the armed forces. Before retiring, he was the inspector general at the Ministry of Defense.
Minister of Interior: Ahmad Hajjar
Ahmad Hajjar is a retired general of the Lebanese Army and a member of Kulluna Irada.
Minister of Finance: Yassine Jaber
Yassine Jaber is a politician close to the Amal movement. He was elected MP for Nabatiyeh from 1992 to 2022 on the list of the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri. He served as minister of economy (1996-1998) and minister of public works and transport (2004-2005). He holds a degree in economics from the American University of Beirut.
Minister of Energy: Joe Saddi
Joe Saddi, former CEO and chairman of Booz & Company, is an expert in energy management and corporate strategy. He was appointed minister of energy on the proposal of the Lebanese Forces.
Minister of Education: Rima Karami
Rima Karami is an academic specializing in educational administration and policy, currently chair of the department at AUB. She was appointed minister of education on the proposal of the National Agreement bloc in Nawaf Salam’s government.
Minister of Culture: Ghassan Salameh
Ghassan Salameh is a political scientist and professor of political science at the University of Sorbonne. He served as minister of culture between 2000 and 2003.
Minister of Social Affairs: Hanine el-Sayyed
Hanine el-Sayyed, an expert in human development and social protection, has led poverty reduction programs at the World Bank. She is affiliated with the Kulluna Irada group.
Minister of Environment: Tamara el-Zein
Before her appointment as minister of environment, Tamara el-Zein served as Secretary-General of the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) since July 2022, becoming the first woman to lead this institution since its founding in 1962. She holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Haute-Alsace.
Minister of Public Works: Fayez Rasamny
Fayez Rasamny is the CEO of RYMCO, a leading company in the Lebanese automotive sector. He was appointed minister of public works on the proposal of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP).
Minister of Agriculture: Nizar Hani
Nizar Hani is an expert in protected area management, serving as the director of the Chouf Cedars Natural Reserve since 2010. In 2021, he was elected Vice President of the World Commission on Protected Areas for the MENA region.
Minister of Health: Rakan Nasreddine
Rakan Nasreddine is a Lebanese doctor specializing in vascular surgery who graduated from AUB. Before his appointment as minister of health, he worked at AUBMC (American University of Beirut Medical Center). His appointment was supported by Hezbollah.
Minister of Labor: Mohammad Haidar
Mohammad Haidar is the director of the nuclear medicine department at the Beirut University Hospital. He is part of the Amal-Hezbollah tandem.
Minister of Telecommunications: Charles Hajj
Charles Hajj is a businessman with international experience in consulting and management. He was the former senior vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton, where he led the company in the Middle East.
Minister of Tourism: Laura Lahoud
Laura Lahoud is the Executive Vice President of the Al-Bustan Festival, which she co-directs with her mother, Myrna Boustani.
Minister of Information: Paul Morcos
Paul Morcos is a lawyer and academic, holding a PhD in law from the University II Nancy Lorraine in France. He has taught law at several Lebanese and international universities and has led legislative work as a consultant for the human rights and women’s rights committees in the Lebanese Parliament.
Minister of Economy: Amer Bissat
Amer Bissat, an economist and financier, is a board member of Kulluna Irada.
Minister of State for Administrative Development: Fadi Makki
Fadi Makki is a specialist in economics and behavioral sciences and founder of the first behavioral consulting unit in the Middle East, B4Development. He was the Director-General of the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade.
Minister of Justice: Adel Nassar
The new Minister of Justice, Adel Nassar, is a lawyer, holding degrees in private and public law from Saint Joseph University and Paris II Panthéon-Assas University. His appointment is supported by the Kataeb Party.
Minister of Youth and Sports: Nora Bayrakdarian
Nora Bayrakdarian is an academic and expert in international relations and international law. She has taught at the Lebanese University and the American University of Beirut.
Minister of Industry: Joe Issa el-Khoury
The new Minister of Industry, Joe Issa el-Khoury, is a civil engineering graduate from the American University of Beirut and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He has held various leadership roles in the banking and financial sector, notably as vice president of the Saradar Group. His appointment is supported by the Lebanese Forces.
Minister of Displaced Persons and Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence: Kamal Chehadeh
Kamal Chehadeh has held leadership positions in the telecommunications sector, notably in the United Arab Emirates, and chaired the Lebanese Telecommunications Regulatory Authority from 2007 to 2010.
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