Mustapha Adib Named as Lebanon’s new Prime Minister
- AM plus
- Sep 6, 2020
- 2 min read
By Rianna Lobo
31st August, 2020
Mustapha Adib, an ambassador, was designated with forming a new government by Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Monday, 31st August after he secured the support of a majority of MPs in parliament.
His nomination came on the day the French President, Emmanuel Macron was due to visit Lebanon to mark the centennial anniversary of Greater Lebanon, which was established by France. Macron had set a deadline for “political change” for September 1st. Since the explosion occurred, Macron has been trying to broker a proper resolution in order to resolve and end Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political crises.
The newly designated PM has already urged for immediate reforms as a step towards securing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and also said that a new government must be formed in record time. The previous Lebanese government resigned on Aug 10th, following the massive Beirut blasts. “The opportunity for our country is small, and the mission I have accepted is based on all the political forces acknowledging that,” Adib said after being designated by President Michel Aoun.
Adib was nominated by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah to be the Prime Minister.
Previously he has been Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany since 2013, whose name only appeared on Sunday to replace Hassan Diab, who resigned in the aftermath of the blasts. The 48-year old is from the northern city of Tripoli and is a Sunni Muslim, which makes him eligible to become PM as per Lebanon’s sectarian-based power-sharing system. He also served as an advisor to Najib Mikati, a former billionaire and Prime Minister. In 2011, the then PM Mikati appointed Adib as his chief of cabinet.
Lebanon’s economic crises are said to be largely owing to its power-sharing system due to corruption and mismanagement. Protests have been held nationwide against the system and have only gotten stronger after the August 4 blasts. Diab (former PM) in his resignation speech said that Lebanon’s elite are to be blamed for hindering economic and political crises. Adib has already addressed that immediate reforms must be put in place so Lebanon can recover from its multiple crises.
Sources: The New York Times, Reuters
Edited by Hrishit Roy.
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