This is Beirut

Is the Ministry of Finance the Best Option for the Shiite Duo?

Johnny Kortbawi, 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Prime Minister President Government Hezbollah Amal

Forming the government will mark the third victory for the sovereign camp in Lebanon. The first was General Joseph Aoun’s election, which defied the wishes of the Amal-Hezbollah duo, who had steadfastly backed its own candidate for two years. In an attempt to create a false narrative of success, it even resorted to the “two-hour break” ...

New Lebanon: The End of the ‘Resistance Axis’ Obstruction

Philippe Abi-Akl, 08:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun Amal Emmanuel Macron Hezbollah Saudi Arabia

President Emmanuel Macron’s third visit to Lebanon since August 2020, dubbed “The Last Chance,” marks a turning point for the new president’s term. It came after repeated failures to resolve the crisis of electing a president. Macron visited Beirut shortly after General Joseph Aoun’s election as President and Nawaf Salam’s designation ...

Tug of War Ahead of Government Formation to Address Upcoming Challenges

Bassam Abou Zeid, 20/01 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Amal Hezbollah

The process of forming the first government under the new presidential term remains focused on defining the qualifications and criteria for appointing ministers. While it is acknowledged that ministers cannot be entirely detached from political considerations—even if they are not directly affiliated with parties—the challenge lies in balancing ...

Second Day of Non-Binding Parliamentary Consultations: End of First Round

This is Beirut, 16/01 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam continued his non-binding parliamentary consultations for the second consecutive day, meeting with 10 MPs. Salam is scheduled to meet with President Aoun at the Baabda Palace to update him on the outcomes of these discussions. At the conclusion of the first round, which ended at 1 PM on Thursday, the majority ...

Non-Binding Consultations to Form Government Held in Berri’s Absence

This is Beirut, 15/01 22:04 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Amal Free Patriotic Movement Hezbollah Nawaf Salam government

Wednesday’s non-binding parliamentary consultations began with the notable absence of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who was expected to meet with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam before the beginning of discussions with MPs. Instead, consultations were launched by Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who commended Salam’s ...

Government Formation: Amal and Hezbollah Boycott Non-Binding Consultations

Chelsea Al Arif, 15/01 11:05 - Reading : less than a minute

Amal Hezbollah

Designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived at the Parliament this morning at 10 AM. However, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who was scheduled to meet with him, boycotted the non-binding consultations. Meanwhile, the Shiite duo Amal and Hezbollah had been considering boycotting the parliamentary consultations since Tuesday evening, a decision ...

Amal and Hezbollah Will Boycott Parliamentary Consultations

This is Beirut, 14/01 20:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah Joseph Aoun

The Amal and Hezbollah blocs declared its decision to abstain from participating in the non-binding parliamentary consultations scheduled by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam on Wednesday to form his government. During an interview with the local channel LBCI on Wednesday, MP Qassem Hachem, affiliated with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, ...

The Shiite Duo Concedes to Regional Shifts by Electing Joseph Aoun

Philippe Abi-Akl, 14/01 08:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun Amal Hezbollah Israel

“I did not come to engage in politics, but to build a state that can only be founded on justice and equality for all its components.” This statement, delivered by General Joseph Aoun, Lebanon's first president after its centenary, during his first official meeting with a congratulatory delegation, succinctly summarizes his vision and ...

Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun is the 14th President of Lebanon

This is Beirut, 09/01 14:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Amal Hezbollah Joseph Aoun president election\

Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun was elected on Thursday as the 14th president of Lebanon in a second round of the voting, ending more than two years of vacuum in the top post. Aoun obtained 99 votes of the 128-member unicameral parliament, against 9 blank votes, two votes for Chibli Mallat and 18 invalid ballots. The second round of the voting ...

Who is Lebanon's Long-Awaited 14th President Joseph Aoun?

Yara Germany, 09/01 14:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun Lebanese Army Amal Hezbollah President election

When considering the implementation of a ceasefire—fragile at best—a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel, the second-largest non-nuclear explosion in history, an unprecedented economic collapse, an unparalleled political paralysis, an attack by ISIS on Lebanese soil, all compounded by Lebanon's deeply rooted sectarian tensions, one ...

Army Commander Fails First Round of Presidential Vote

This is Beirut, 09/01 13:23 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Amal Free Patriotic Movement Hezbollah Joseph Aoun presidential election

Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun failed to get elected as Lebanon’s new president in the first round of parliament voting on Thursday. Aoun received 71 votes, short of the 86 ballots that he needs to be elected in the first round. The ballots included 37 blank votes, two for Chebli Mallat and 18 invalid votes. The blank and invalid votes have ...

The Twelve Labors of… Parliament

Natasha Metni Torbey, 09/01 10:50 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Amal Gebran Bassil Hezbollah Israel

Since the end of former President Michel Aoun's term in October 2022, Lebanon has been facing a period of presidential vacancy, accompanied by overlapping economic and security crises, the most recent being the war between Hezbollah and Israel. From political divisions to diplomatic visits, the Lebanese political scene has become mired in ...

Amal