Lebanon’s prime minister formed a Cabinet more than 10 months after taking office on Saturday, including a wide range of political groups after bridging serious divisions among them mostly over Syria’s civil war.
“This is a unity Cabinet that represents at the present time the best formula for Lebanon with all the political, security, economic and social challenges it is facing,” Salam said soon after his government was announced.
“The national interest Cabinet was formed with the spirit of gathering, not divisions, and meeting, not defiance.”
He added that the role of this cabinet is to “strengthen national security and stand against all kinds of terrorism.”
Salam also stressed the social issue of nearly a million Syrian refugees who fled for safety in Lebanon.
This government will only remain until a new government will be formed after President Michel Suleiman’s six-year term ends in May and a new head of state is elected.