This is Beirut

All Eyes on the Ministry of Finance

Natasha Metni Torbey, 2025-01-27 22:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Amal Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Hezbollah International Monetary Fund

The exception is not the rule. This saying does not apply to Lebanon, where for over a decade, well after the signing of the Taif Agreement in 1989, the Amal-Hezbollah duo has persistently claimed—“de facto and de jure,” as they often assert—the Ministry of Finance, one of the most coveted portfolios in the country. The reasons behind ...

The Last Shot… Ending Amal-Hezbollah Grip on Finance Ministry

Johnny Kortbawi, 2025-01-24 17:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah Lebanese Forces

The Ministry of Finance is not just a mere step in government formation. Speaker Nabih Berri has reopened the “Taif” files, reflecting on a past that no longer has anyone to endorse or oppose. The Ministry of Finance was indeed part of the Taif Agreement discussions, with a proposal to assign it to the Shiite community. However, this proposal ...

Taif Agreement Carries No Provision of Monopoly on Ministerial Portfolios

Bassam Abou Zeid, 2025-01-24 13:17 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah Taif agreement Finance Ministry government

For some in Lebanon, everything takes precedence over the law and the Constitution. Terms such as the National Pact, consensus, custom or even the “minutes of the Taif Agreement” are frequently misused to justify allocating the Ministry of Finance to the Shiite duo Amal-Hezbollah. This is not the first time the minutes of the Taif Agreement ...

Is a Fait Accompli Government on the Horizon?

Bassam Abou Zeid, 2025-01-22 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam

Will Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun succeed in forming a government that aligns with their expectations and meets the needs of the Lebanese people, all while resisting political pressures, particularly from Amal and Hezbollah? Although this outcome cannot entirely be ruled out, there are warnings against its ...

Is the Ministry of Finance the Best Option for the Shiite Duo?

Johnny Kortbawi, 2025-01-21 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Prime Minister President Government Hezbollah Amal

Forming the government will mark the third victory for the sovereign camp in Lebanon. The first was General Joseph Aoun’s election, which defied the wishes of the Amal-Hezbollah duo, who had steadfastly backed its own candidate for two years. In an attempt to create a false narrative of success, it even resorted to the “two-hour break” ...

New Lebanon: The End of the ‘Resistance Axis’ Obstruction

Philippe Abi-Akl, 2025-01-21 08:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun Amal Emmanuel Macron Hezbollah Saudi Arabia

President Emmanuel Macron’s third visit to Lebanon since August 2020, dubbed “The Last Chance,” marks a turning point for the new president’s term. It came after repeated failures to resolve the crisis of electing a president. Macron visited Beirut shortly after General Joseph Aoun’s election as President and Nawaf Salam’s designation ...

Tug of War Ahead of Government Formation to Address Upcoming Challenges

Bassam Abou Zeid, 2025-01-20 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Amal Hezbollah

The process of forming the first government under the new presidential term remains focused on defining the qualifications and criteria for appointing ministers. While it is acknowledged that ministers cannot be entirely detached from political considerations—even if they are not directly affiliated with parties—the challenge lies in balancing ...

Second Day of Non-Binding Parliamentary Consultations: End of First Round

This is Beirut, 2025-01-16 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam continued his non-binding parliamentary consultations for the second consecutive day, meeting with 10 MPs. Salam is scheduled to meet with President Aoun at the Baabda Palace to update him on the outcomes of these discussions. At the conclusion of the first round, which ended at 1 PM on Thursday, the majority ...

Non-Binding Consultations to Form Government Held in Berri’s Absence

This is Beirut, 2025-01-15 22:04 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Amal Free Patriotic Movement Hezbollah Nawaf Salam government

Wednesday’s non-binding parliamentary consultations began with the notable absence of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who was expected to meet with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam before the beginning of discussions with MPs. Instead, consultations were launched by Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who commended Salam’s ...

Government Formation: Amal and Hezbollah Boycott Non-Binding Consultations

Chelsea Al Arif, 2025-01-15 11:05 - Reading : less than a minute

Amal Hezbollah

Designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived at the Parliament this morning at 10 AM. However, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who was scheduled to meet with him, boycotted the non-binding consultations. Meanwhile, the Shiite duo Amal and Hezbollah had been considering boycotting the parliamentary consultations since Tuesday evening, a decision ...

Amal and Hezbollah Will Boycott Parliamentary Consultations

This is Beirut, 2025-01-14 20:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Amal Hezbollah Joseph Aoun

The Amal and Hezbollah blocs declared its decision to abstain from participating in the non-binding parliamentary consultations scheduled by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam on Wednesday to form his government. During an interview with the local channel LBCI on Wednesday, MP Qassem Hachem, affiliated with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, ...

The Shiite Duo Concedes to Regional Shifts by Electing Joseph Aoun

Philippe Abi-Akl, 2025-01-14 08:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Joseph Aoun Amal Hezbollah

“I did not come to engage in politics, but to build a state that can only be founded on justice and equality for all its components.” This statement, delivered by General Joseph Aoun, Lebanon's first president after its centenary, during his first official meeting with a congratulatory delegation, succinctly summarizes his vision and ...

Amal