The Lebanese Cabinet convened today under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawwaf salam and in the presence of President Joseph Aoun. Before the session, the two leaders held a closed-door meeting to discuss the agenda. The session, currently underway, is expected to address administrative, financial, and economic topics, with ongoing political developments looming in the background.
Top Appointments Dominate Cabinet Agenda
One of the primary items on the agenda is a set of critical appointments, especially in the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR). Till now The Cabinet has already approved the appointment of:
- Ghassan Khairallah as Secretary General
- Youssef Karam and Ibrahim Chahrour as Vice Presidents
- Ziad Nasr as Government Commissioner to the CDR
In another major move, Ahmad Oueidat has been appointed as Director General of Ogero, Lebanon’s telecom authority. The Cabinet also approved Dr. George Maarawi as the permanent Director General of the Ministry of Finance.
Lebanon TV Leadership Still Under Review
The Cabinet postponed the appointment of a new Chairman for Télé Liban . According to Minister of Information Paul Morcos, the committee assigned to oversee this file is still evaluating over 170 applicants, including prominent journalist Ghada Abou Aadel, who has reportedly been shortlisted for the director position.
Delays in Diplomatic and Central Bank Appointments
The Cabinet decided to delay diplomatic reshuffling and the appointment of new Central Bank vice governors. Sources indicate that there is ongoing debate over whether to keep the current first deputy, Wassim Mansouri, based on a request from Speaker Nabih Berri, or to replace all vice governors as a group. Political and procedural considerations are still being reviewed.
Financial Support for Military Approved
The Cabinet approved a long-awaited financial support package for the military:
- 14 million LBP monthly allowance for active-duty personnel
- 12 million LBP monthly allowance for retired personnel
These measures will go into effect on July 1.
Security Talks and Regional Cooperation
President Aoun is also expected to congratulate the government on successfully holding municipal elections during the session. The Cabinet discussed recent security and military developments, including a visit by Lebanese army and security delegations to Syria, where they reviewed border control and cooperation. Discussions also covered the joint Lebanese-Syrian committee formed for this purpose.
Awaiting Final Decisions
As the Cabinet meeting continues, further updates on pending files are expected. Final decisions may hinge on ongoing political negotiations and further internal reviews.
Stay tuned for updates once the meeting concludes or you can check our WhatsApp channel!
