Meet the women in Lebanon’s government
All eyes are on the four women appointed to Cabinet positions in Lebanon's new government, a record high in the country plagued by economic and other longstanding issues.
BEIRUT — Four women have been appointed to Cabinet positions in Lebanon’s new 30-member government, a record-breaking figure for the country, which does not have a gender quota for political representation. Shortly after announcing the end of the political deadlock that had left Lebanon without a government for nine months after elections, Prime Minister Saad Hariri tweeted on Feb. 1, “Proud of Lebanese women, proud of the four female minister in the government, proud of the first woman interior minister in the Arab world, proud of the future, proud of Lebanon.”
The news garnered widespread attention by international media, particularly Future Movement member Raya el-Hassan, a former finance minister, being chosen to oversee the Interior Ministry, one of Lebanon’s four sovereign ministries, a position affording her significant power.
