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.
Nada Boustany of the Free Patriotic Movement was appointed energy and water minister, another senior portfolio, while May Chidiac, a member of the Lebanese Forces, became minister of state for administrative development, and Violette Safadi, an independent, was named minister of state for economic empowerment of women and youth.
“The nominations of these women will hopefully change the perception of society toward women and their capacities,” Claudine Aoun Roukoz, president of the National Commission for Lebanese Women and daughter of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, told Al-Monitor. “It’s important that we have women representing different sectors, because obviously a woman’s voice in politics is needed across all sectors, not just in those related to gender. Women are directly affected in all political decisions that are made, whether it be related to the environment, social affairs or electricity. We are needed to ensure a proper democracy.”
