Lebanon: Prime Minister Najib Mikati reappointed more weakened than ever

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut on June 23, 2022. AP - Hussein Malla

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Nagib Mikati was once again appointed Prime Minister of Lebanon after obtaining the vote of 54 of the 128 deputies in Parliament.

His rival Nawaf Salam obtained only 24 votes.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

It was as a weakened man that Nagib Mikati was reappointed as head of government following the parliamentary consultations required by the Constitution.

The post of Prime Minister is always attributed to a Sunni personality in the denominational system in force in Lebanon.

However,

was reappointed thanks to the votes of the two Shiite parties, Hezbollah and the Amal movement of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry.

The main Christian formations abstained from granting him their votes.

The Free Patriotic Movement, founded by President Michel Aoun, accuses him of protecting the controversial governor of the Banque du Liban, Riad Salamé, accused of being partly responsible for the country's financial bankruptcy.

The Lebanese Forces of Samir Geagea believe that Nagib Mikati is not firm enough on the issue of Hezbollah weapons.

The position that emerged during the consultations suggests that Nagib Mikati will have difficulty forming a government quickly.

However, time is a luxury that Lebanon cannot claim.

The presidential mandate ends at the end of October and the government must be formed before this deadline.

But the most important thing is that Lebanon is beset by a mountain of problems: the country is without electricity, the economy is destroyed, and public services are almost non-existent.

►Also read: Lebanon: Najib Mikati, a man of the system appointed Prime Minister

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• Lebanon

• Najib Mikati