The government approved on Thursday a new mechanism for administrative appointments in the public administration. According to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the mechanism is based on nine criteria, including competence, prioritization, competition, absence of conflicts of interest, transparency, equal opportunity, diversity, inclusion and accountability. These criteria represent a clear break from the political clientelism that had become, over the years, the hallmark of appointments at all levels within the public sector.
Salam emphasized that building a state ruled by law is “the government’s guiding principle,” stressing that no state can function without an “effective and transparent administration.”
During the Cabinet session he chaired, Salam underscored the need for honest and competent institutions that protect citizens’ interests and deliver high-quality public services.
He affirmed that the approved mechanism ensures equal representation in first-category positions without reserving any specific post for a particular sect. He also highlighted the need to address the random hiring practices of previous years and announced the formation of a committee for public sector reform.
The appointment process will be open to candidates from both within and outside the public sector, he noted, encouraging second-category public sector employees to apply for first-category positions, stating that “the state needs young blood.”
Speaking after the session, Minister of Information Paul Morcos stated that ministers’ role in the appointment process remains intact, explaining that the concerned minister may propose a list of candidates from outside the administration, while the final decision rests with the Cabinet.
Morcos also revealed that the Cabinet will review Education Minister Rima Karami’s request to cancel the Brevet certificate (middle school diploma). However, he clarified that “the minister has simply presented an argument outlining the reasons for the cancellation, but the Cabinet has not yet discussed it in today’s session.”
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