Lebanon announces govt after 8-month delay

Lebanon announced a government line-up Thursday, ending an eight-month wait that had heightened fears of a major economic collapse. The new cabinet, unveiled during a press conference at the presidential palace, includes 30 ministers from Lebanon’s rival political clans. The new line-up is to see four women take up office, including at the head of the interior and energy ministries. Gibran Bassil is to remain as foreign minister, while Ali Hassan Khalil is also staying on in charge of the finance ministry. On May 24, after parliamentary elections, President Michel Aoun quickly nominated Prime Minister Saad Hariri for his third term as premier and tasked him with forming a cabinet. But political parties in the small multi-confessional country spent eight months arguing over the new government’s make-up.

Lebanon announces govt after 8-month delay

Lebanon announced a government line-up Thursday, ending an eight-month wait that had heightened fears of a major economic collapse. The new cabinet, unveiled during a press conference at the presidential palace, includes 30 ministers from Lebanons rival political clans. The new line-up is to see four women take up office, including at the head of the interior and energy ministries. Gibran Bassil is to remain as foreign minister, while Ali Hassan Khalil is also staying on in charge of the finance ministry. On May 24, after parliamentary elections, President Michel Aoun quickly nominated Prime Minister Saad Hariri for his third term as premier and tasked him with forming a cabinet. But political parties in the small multi-confessional country spent eight months arguing over the new governments make-up.