Prime Minister Nawaf Salam marked the first 100 days of his government by presenting a bold reform agenda and outlining the progress made so far.
Speaking on the eve of Eid al-Adha, Salam acknowledged the scale of Lebanon’s challenges but said the country has started taking real steps toward recovery.
On the security front, Salam noted that the Lebanese Army has dismantled more than 500 illegal armed sites south of the Litani River. The government has also tightened airport and border controls, including the formation of joint committees with Syria to curb smuggling and prepare for the safe return of refugees.
Politically, municipal elections were held for the first time in nine years, and preparations are underway for parliamentary elections. Diplomatic outreach has resumed, with Salam and the president engaging Arab and regional partners to rebuild Lebanon’s relations in the region.
On the economic front, Salam emphasized that the government is focused on real, long-term reform, not quick fixes. Several key laws are in motion, including one to restructure Lebanon’s banking sector and another to strengthen judicial transparency. A third law, currently being finalized, will address the country’s massive financial gap. According to Salam, its main goal is to protect people’s bank deposits, not erase them.
Talks with the International Monetary Fund are progressing steadily. Salam said the IMF is not a savior or an enemy, but a tool that can help Lebanon recover if used wisely. To support reconstruction, the government has secured a $250 million loan from the World Bank and is working with UN agencies on additional development projects worth over $350 million. These will fund healthcare, education, housing and food security over the next four years.
In public administration, the cabinet approved a merit-based hiring system, appointed long-delayed regulatory bodies for electricity, telecoms and aviation, and began reclaiming illegally occupied seaside properties. A draft law to guarantee judicial independence is now before parliament, along with measures to ease prison overcrowding.
Salam concluded by promising continued transparency and action. “We are not asking for blind patience. Judge us by what we deliver in the months ahead, because we will not slow down.”
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