Lebanon: the main challenges facing the Mikati government

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut on September 13, 2021 during a ceremony at government palace.

AP - Hussein Malla

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The new Lebanese government, headed by Najib Mikati, held its first meeting on Monday, September 13, during which it formed the commission responsible for drafting the ministerial declaration.

The Head of State, Michel Aoun, chaired the meeting and called on the cabinet to quickly launch a work site to put the country back on the road to rescue and recovery.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Paul Khalifeh

Between the words of Michel Aoun and those of Najib Mikati,

the government's program

is already known. The Head of State called for the resumption of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, the restructuring of the banking sector as well as the adoption of a plan for the rehabilitation of the electricity network.

Michel Aoun

also called for the organization of the return of displaced Syrians to their homes.

Najib Mikati indicated that his government would find solutions to the shortage of fuel and medicine, "in 

order to

put an end to the humiliation of the population,

 " he said. For the population and economic players, the energy challenge is the most urgent to take up. Large swathes of the economy are crippled or idling due to fuel shortages. Electricity production has fallen significantly, due to a lack of fuel, and private generators are drastically rationing the distribution of electricity.

The Lebanese and the international community expect the government to make far-reaching reforms and a serious fight against corruption.

But the population remains skeptical, especially as the executive power is controlled by the same political class accused of having introduced corruption at all levels of the state.

On the political level,

Najib Mikati

has pledged to organize the legislative elections on the date scheduled for next May, as demanded by the international community.

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• Lebanon

• Michel Aoun

• Najib mikati