Lebanon forms new government headed by Najib Mikati

After 13 months without a government and a worsening economic situation, Lebanon has finally managed to form a new executive led by Najib Mikati. Mikati, the country's richest man, has already held office twice. He first served as interim prime minister in 2005 for three months after the assassination of Rafik Hariri. He was then elected in 2011, but resigned in 2013 under pressure from Hezbollah.

For his third term, he has promised to re-establish negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which have been stalled for more than a year, and to hold the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2022. He will also cooperate with other countries and international organisations to improve the country's situation. "We will use every second to call on international organisations," Mikati said.

The new government includes Youssef Khalil, a senior Central Bank official who will serve as finance minister. Former Lebanese ambassador to the US, Abdallah Bouhabib, will be appointed foreign minister. The Ministry of Health will be headed by Firass Abiad, director of the Rafik Hariri Hospital, the country's leading health centre in the fight against the coronavirus. Najla Riachi will be the only woman in the cabinet and will be the Minister of Administrative Reform. Mikati said his government is made up of "non-partisan specialists determined to reform the economy and pave the way for a recovery".

"The situation is difficult, very difficult," the new Lebanese prime minister told reporters at his first press conference. "However, it is not impossible if we unite. Our priority is to ease the suffering of the Lebanese people," he added. According to World Bank figures, Lebanon is experiencing one of the three worst economic and political crises in the world since the mid-19th century.

The national currency has lost 90% of its value against the dollar, GDP has fallen by 40% and unemployment and inflation have soared. In addition, the country suffers from shortages of basic commodities such as medicines, electricity and fuel. Water is also a major problem. In a recent UNICEF report, the UN agency warned that more than 71 per cent of citizens are at risk of losing access to safe drinking water.

This situation has been exacerbated by the political stalemate since the Beirut port explosion in August 2020. Following the accident, which killed at least 215 people, Hassan Diad's government resigned amid protests demanding accountability for the catastrophe.