Lebanon’s new government has its work cut out for it
The newly formed Lebanese government is in for real challenges, mainly the crisis of the collapsing Lebanese pound and debt that has reached a record level.
BEIRUT — Less than a month since its formation, Lebanon’s new Cabinet received a vote of confidence from parliament Feb. 11. The vote saw 63 of 84 legislators present give their confidence to the new government headed by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, a professor at the American University of Beirut who served an education minister in the 2011 government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
After the government was formed Jan. 21, Diab had vowed that his Cabinet — which is made up of 20 ministers, including six women — represents the aspirations of the protesters, and will work to ensure the independence of the judiciary and the recovery of looted funds and to fight against illicit enrichment and unemployment.
