Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice, Appointed to Form Lebanese Government Despite Hezbollah's Opposition

The Lebanese presidency announced that Joseph Aoun, the country's president, has officially tasked Nawaf Salam, the President of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, with forming a cabinet after consulting with parliamentary factions. Reports on Monday, January 13, indicated that more than half of Lebanese lawmakers supported Nawaf Salam, positioning him on the path to becoming Lebanon's Prime Minister. This development reflects a weakening of Hezbollah's position, the group supported by the Islamic Republic, which sought to keep Najib Mikati in this role. By Monday evening, Nawaf Salam had garnered the support of 99 parliamentary representatives. Mr. Salam, currently in The Hague, must return to Lebanon to begin his duties. A source from Hezbollah had earlier told Reuters that Hezbollah representatives, witnessing the growing support for Mr. Salam, arrived late for their meeting with Joseph Aoun, the new president of Lebanon. This source, unnamed by Reuters, stated that Hezbollah believed a political agreement to elect Najib Mikati had been reached prior to the group's consent, with Joseph Aoun's election as president last week. Meanwhile, Najib Mikati only managed to secure the votes of 9 representatives. Joseph Aoun, the army commander, was elected as the President of Lebanon. The head of the Hezbollah-affiliated bloc, after meeting with Joseph Aoun, protested the ongoing process and announced that Hezbollah would not introduce any candidate for the premiership. Mohammad Raad stated that the group's opponents are trying to fragment Hezbollah and push it out of power in Lebanon. After the meeting of Hezbollah representatives with the president at the presidential palace, he said that the group had extended its 'hand of friendship' by assisting in the election of Joseph Aoun as president last week, but now 'this hand has been severed.' The majority support for Nawaf Salam indicates a significant shift in the balance of power among various factions in Lebanon following Hezbollah's war with Israel and the recent fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The election of Joseph Aoun, a U.S.-backed figure, as president also reflects this change in the Lebanese political landscape, a country where Hezbollah has long held decisive influence. After the president appoints someone to form a government, they must begin consultations with factions to establish the cabinet.