By Nohad Topalian | 2025-02-20

BEIRUT -- The Lebanese state must be the sole bearer of arms, Lebanon's new government announced February 17, as it unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at building a "modern state" with judicial independence.

Information Minister Paul Morcos presented the cabinet's ministerial statement, which must secure a parliamentary confidence vote within 30 days before the new government can assume its powers, AFP reported.

Morcos emphasized "the state's duty to monopolize bearing arms and enforce state sovereignty over all its territory solely through its own forces."

The government pledged to implement "fully, impartially and without selectiveness" United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, while upholding the November 27 ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Under the new ceasefire deal, Lebanon's military must deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as Israeli forces withdraw, while Hizbullah is required to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who secured the premiership January 13 with support from 84 of 128 lawmakers, leads a "reform and salvation government" comprising 24 ministers drawn from a pool of specialists and newcomers.

Salam announced his 24-member cabinet on February 8.

"We will strive to restore trust between citizens and the state, between Lebanon and its Arab surrounding, and between Lebanon and the international community," he said in a televised statement following the announcement.

Restoring Lebanon's sovereignty

The government aims at "building a modern and just state, implementing the Taif Agreement, achieving required financial, economic and judicial reforms," said MP Ibrahim Mneimneh, who withdrew his candidacy in favor of Salam.

It also aims to "restore Lebanon's sovereignty with weapons exclusively in state hands," he said.

"Judicial independence and completing the Beirut port explosion investigation are a real test for the government," Mneimneh told Al-Fassel. "An independent judiciary is the foundation for building the state we aspire to."

The draft ministerial statement also promised to prevent Lebanon from being used as "a platform to attack friendly states" while asserting the state's exclusive right to decisions of war and peace.

"Salam's government inspires confidence for Lebanon's return to its Arab environment, revival of Arab investments and tourism, and International Monetary Fund support," political analyst Sabine Oueiss told Al-Fassel.

She added that the completion of the port explosion investigation will be "a serious indicator of the state's ability to achieve judicial independence to carry out investigations to the end."

New Justice Minister Adel Nassar pledged to protect the port explosion investigation from interference.

"We have entered a new phase, and any attempt to obstruct the investigation will be blocked according to established procedures and laws," Nassar told Al-Hadath television on February 8.

"The time of dodging responsibility is over. Accountability is real, established and effective," he added.