- 15:40
The first round of the confidence debate has concluded. On Tuesday, Parliament gathered for a two-day plenary session, with around 75 parliamentarians set to speak and vote on whether to grant confidence to the new government, known as the “rescue and reform government.”
For the cabinet to commence work, it must secure the confidence of an absolute majority.
After Prime Minister Nawaf Salam presented the decrees for the government’s formation and the ministerial statement approved on February 17, Vice-President of the Chamber Elias Bou Saab took the floor.
While voicing his support for the new cabinet, Bou Saab expressed reservations, especially regarding the funding sources for Lebanon’s reconstruction after the war.
He called for a national dialogue to address the country’s sovereignty, defense mechanisms and the state’s control over weapons, aiming to resolve the ongoing political and security crisis.
Although Hezbollah also voiced its backing for the government, the speech of Mohammad Raad, leader of the parliamentary bloc, focused mainly on the war with Israel and the group’s “achievements” without directly addressing the ministerial statement.
Only toward the end of his address did Raad shift his tone, claiming Hezbollah’s readiness to cooperate with the cabinet.
He also emphasized the importance of holding the next legislative elections in May 2026, on schedule.
The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) also pledged its support for the government, aligning with the ministerial statement’s goals.
Like Raad, the PSP stressed the necessity of Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territory and called on the international community to exert pressure to achieve this.
Regarding the legislative elections, the PSP advocated for a new law to “break sectarian restrictions” and stressed the need to restore confidence in Lebanon’s central bank.
Zgharta MP Michel Moawad also granted confidence to the government, expressing openness and a willingness to work with Hezbollah to “build a state and a nation for all Lebanese.”
In response to Raad’s speech, Moawad firmly rejected the notion of a state controlled by weapons and sectarian delays.
He criticized Hezbollah’s contradictory stance, which is calling for the Lebanese army to be deployed in southern Lebanon while refusing to give up its arms.
As a key partner in the government, the Lebanese Forces (LF) expressed its support for the new cabinet. Becharre MP Sethrida Geagea stated that the President’s inaugural speech and the ministerial statement reflect the LF’s expectations.
She also called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.
In an unexpected move, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which has no ministers in the government, chose not to grant confidence to the cabinet.
As the first part of the confidence debate concluded, the immense challenges facing the government were laid bare.
As highlighted by several MPs, these challenges include restoring political stability and effectively managing Lebanon’s economic, social and national sovereignty issues.
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