- 04
- Mar
- 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has unveiled a bold agenda for his government, vowing swift action on urgent matters. From his first moments in office, he has prioritized key issues. In the face of Lebanon’s crisis, the Cabinet is poised to implement crucial reforms to revive the nation.
On Wednesday, February 26, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed his strong commitment to the new Cabinet’s agenda. “When we say we want something, it’s not a mere wish or request, but a firm pledge,” he emphasized before parliamentarians, after his government secured their confidence with 95 votes.
He clarified that “the government’s statement does not outline the policy in all areas; it is not an action plan, but rather a document that clarifies the government’s fundamental principles.”
That said, Salam has already prioritized several critical issues among the many tasks awaiting the Cabinet, whose first session is scheduled for Thursday, March 6. Judging by the ministers’ swift actions, work has already begun at full speed, with a focus on tackling essential matters rather than making public statements.
An Ambitious Agenda
“The government’s foremost priority is the complete withdrawal of Israel,” asserted Salam in his address to Parliament on Wednesday.
He also emphasized the “priority” of facilitating the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland and called for “immediate” action to revise the Lebanese-Syrian agreements “in a way that serves the interests of both countries.”
On the domestic front, the prime minister announced that appointments to vacant public administration positions will be made within a few weeks based on merit. The government will also focus on advancing administrative decentralization, establishing a National Authority for the Abolition of Political Confessionalism, and creating a special fund for reconstruction.
Furthermore, Salam addressed the electricity sector, pledging to “improve collection efforts and eliminate network violations to help enhance the power supply.” He stressed the “urgency of reopening René Mouawad Airport in Qlayaat,” expanding port development beyond Beirut and Tripoli, continuing international efforts to explore oil and gas resources, and resolving both the waste crisis and depositors issues.
Just this past Monday, the prime minister reaffirmed that “anchoring the concept of the state through its institutions is the foundation of our actions” during a visit to the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel-Latif Deriane.
During this visit, he announced that “in the coming months, citizens will witness a new level of government performance and services,” promising that “the government will focus on crucial issues, including water, electricity, roads, and the economic, social and financial situation.” He assured that the Cabinet “will also ensure justice is applied in all matters.”
Clearly, this is an ambitious agenda for a Cabinet that has only 18 months to address both internal challenges and international pressures. But where should it begin?
First Government Session: A Priority-Driven Approach
The Council of Ministers will hold its first working session on Thursday, March 6, at 11 AM at the Baabda Presidential Palace. The agenda includes 25 items, categorized into several sections, reflecting a structured and methodical approach.
The session will begin with the prime minister presenting “a framework for implementing the reforms outlined in the government’s policy statement, with a timeline prioritizing the most urgent needs and issues.”
A key agenda item is the 2025 budget, which was approved by the previous government and forwarded to Parliament, but has yet to be debated.
The deputy prime minister will also present the recommendations from the National Commission on International Law regarding Israeli violations.
In terms of proposed agreements and laws, three items will be discussed: a bill to exempt those directly affected by the Hezbollah-Israel war from taxes, an urgent bill to address delays in diplomats’ retirement, and a bill to approve a loan agreement between Lebanon and the World Bank for the environmental cleanup of Lake Qaraoun.
Regarding public administration, three draft decrees will be reviewed concerning appointments to positions within the State Council and the Presidency. The session will also address the nomination of non-career ambassadors within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, appointments to the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and specialist contracts with the Army Command.
Finally, organizational matters will be examined, including official foreign trips, approval of various donations, and the allocation of a credit line from the 2025 budget reserves for the Presidency.
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