The Council of Ministers held a session on Thursday at the Baabda Presidential Palace, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, to address several pressing national issues – including key regulatory appointments, escalating regional tensions and preparations for the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion.
During the meeting, the Council postponed deliberations on the contentious Jdeideh landfill issue, citing the need for further review. However, several notable appointments were confirmed: Dani Fadel was named head of the Regulatory Authority for Medical Cannabis, while Mohammad Aziz was appointed to lead the Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority.
The government postponed the appointments for the regulatory authorities of telecommunications and energy, and extended the nomination deadlines for both bodies by an additional two weeks.
Speaking after the session, Minister of the Displaced and State Minister for Technology Affairs and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh addressed the ongoing debate over meritocracy versus sectarian balance in public appointments. “Competence is more important than sectarian distribution,” he said, “but parity takes precedence over competence in appointments.”
Minister of Administrative Development Fadi Makki defended the choices, stating, “The regulatory bodies for civil aviation and cannabis were entrusted to some of the most qualified and talented individuals.”
Minister of Information Paul Morcos conveyed that President Aoun had briefed the Cabinet on a recent statement from European Union ambassadors, which reiterated support for Lebanon and highlighted the crucial role of UNIFIL in maintaining stability in the south.
President Aoun also praised the resilience of the tourism sector, noting that it had posted strong figures despite ongoing economic and political headwinds. He congratulated the government on Parliament’s renewed vote of confidence and highlighted what he described as significant achievements over the past six months.
Looking ahead to August 4, the president instructed ministries to prepare appropriate commemorations and actions to mark the fifth anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion, which devastated large parts of the capital and claimed over 200 lives.
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