New government in crisis-hit Lebanon ends 3-month power vacuum

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab speaks during a press conference after his government was announced, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, January 21, 2020.

The move, which comes three months after former Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned, is unlikely to satisfy protesters who have been calling for sweeping reforms and a government made up of independent technocrats that can deal with the country's economic and financial crisis, the worst since the 1975-90 civil war.

He appealed to citizens to help the government implement a “rescue program” and said this Cabinet has the “capability and qualifications, will and commitment” to carry it through.Among the ministers named were six women, including the minister of defence and deputy prime minister. The number is a record for Lebanon, with women now holding more than quarter of the Cabinet posts, including those of defence, justice, labour, youth and sports and the displaced.

For three months, the leaderless protests have been calling for a government made up of specialists that can work on dealing with the economic crisis. The protests have recently turned violent, with around 500 people injured in confrontations between protesters and security forces over the weekend. Diab said his first visit as prime minister will be to the Arab region, particularly to the Gulf Arab countries — a nod to Saudi Arabia, which was the main backer of former Prime Minister Hariri. Backing from oil-rich Gulf countries is badly needed in Lebanon that has one of the highest debt ratios in the world.Panic and anger have gripped the public as the Lebanese pound, pegged to the dollar for more than two decades, plummeted in value.

"The government must take a clear position on this because the previous government did not. It tossed over this ball of fire," Wazni told local broadcaster al Jadeed.

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