Prime Minister

China Hawk Takaichi Named Japan's First Woman PM

Japan got its first woman prime minister on Tuesday after Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk and social conservative, forged an 11th-hour coalition deal. Japan's fifth premier in as many years will lead a minority government and has a bulging in-tray, not least a scheduled visit by US President Donald Trump next week. The lower house of parliament ...

Macron Reappoints Sebastien Lecornu as France's PM

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reappointed his outgoing prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, back into that position, just four days after Lecornu gave his resignation. "The president of the republic has nominated Mr Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister and has tasked him with forming a government," the Elysee Palace said in a ...

France's Macron to Name PM to End Political Crisis

France's Emmanuel Macron was on Friday due to pick a head of government tasked with pulling the country out of a political gridlock, in a move that staves off fresh elections for now. French politics have been deadlocked ever since Macron took the gamble last year of snap polls that he hoped would consolidate power -- but ended instead in a hung ...

France's Macron Under Pressure to Produce Working Government

The clock ticked down Wednesday for France's President Emmanuel Macron to find an exit from his worst domestic crisis, after his first prime minister and one-time ally urged him to resign. Macron, who has been in power since 2017, has failed to lift the country out of political deadlock after snap elections last year ended in a hung parliament ...

Mark Carney Sworn in as Canada's Prime Minister

Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's prime minister on Friday, taking charge of a country rattled by a breakdown in US relations since President Donald Trump's return to power. The ruling Liberal Party overwhelmingly backed Carney to replace Justin Trudeau, betting his experience leading two central banks through historic crises will ...

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

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” ...

Lebanese and International Leaders Congratulate Nawaf Salam’s Appointment as PM

The nomination of Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as Prime Minister on Monday, with a majority of 84 votes, drew widespread messages of congratulations and optimism among Lebanese and international leaders. The European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, expressed optimism about Salam’s ...

The Appointment of the Prime Minister: Beware of the Tripwire

The challenging journey has officially begun. At the starting line, President Joseph Aoun has clearly outlined the key directions. In his inaugural address to the National Assembly, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, the head of state presented a roadmap that breaks with conventional approaches and entrenched clichés. “My aim is ...

Parliamentary Consultations Kick Off at Baabda Palace

The much-anticipated parliamentary consultations, spearheaded by the president of the Republic to appoint a new prime minister, started at Baabda Palace on Monday morning. Members of Parliament are streaming in to partake in the discussions. In a significant turn of events, Tajaddod bloc member MP Fouad Makhzoumi made an announcement on Monday. ...

Presidency Announces Parliamentary Consultations to Be Held on Monday

The General Secretariat of the Presidency announced that President Joseph Aoun will hold parliamentary consultations on Monday to appoint the next Prime Minister tasked with forming a new government. According to a statement issued on Friday, the consultations will begin at Baabda Presidential Palace with a meeting between the President and ...