On Tuesday, February 25, and Wednesday, February 26, Lebanese parliamentarians will have the opportunity to meet with members of the new Nawaf Salam government, formed on February 8. During these sessions, MPs elected in May 2022 will officially exercise for the first time their constitutional role of checks and balances by assessing the government’s proposed ministerial statement—an especially significant task given that the previous government functioned merely as a caretaker, lacking precise accountability mechanisms.

The swift formation of this government and the timely drafting of its ministerial statement mark a positive shift for a country that has, for decades, mastered the art of non-governance. In Lebanon, caretaker governments have too often become the norm rather than the exception. This pattern reached an ironic peak when former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil once sought to present Lebanon’s dysfunctional governance as a model of resilience that other countries could imitate during an appearance at the World Economic Forum,.

A government ministerial statement is an official declaration made by the government to parliament and, consequently, to the general public. It serves as a tool for the government to outline its policies and plans while allowing parliamentarians to hold ministers accountable for their actions and performance.

A new direction in governance

The Reform and Rescue Government’s proposed ministerial statement stands out in both format and substance from its predecessors. Most notably, it explicitly defines the government’s mandate by committing to hold parliamentary elections on schedule in May 2026, setting a clear timeframe for its tenure. Additionally, the government commits to reversing the dominance of impunity, particularly by pledging to resume investigations into the Beirut port explosion.

More importantly, the statement highlights the urgent need to rebuild the state in line with the Constitution, the Taif Accord, and the principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. It also underscores the importance of neutrality and ensuring non-interference in the electoral process.

The government presents a clear vision of a state that maintains a monopoly over the legitimate use of weapons and force. It asserts exclusive authority in making decisions related to war, peace, and the liberation of any occupied territories, relying solely on its own resources.

The statement’s explicit commitment to strengthening the state, its institutions, the army, and the security forces, alongside the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 and the responsibility to protect Lebanon’s borders, deserves recognition. This marks a significant departure from decades of incorporating the concept of resistance or the so-called “trinity” of army, people, and resistance into national discourse.

Foreign policy and reconstruction commitments

Another promising aspect of the ministerial statement is the pledge to establish a trust fund to finance the reconstruction process in line with principles of transparency. The government also outlines a commitment to pursue an active foreign policy that distances Lebanon from regional conflicts while fostering engagement with friendly states and international organizations. It further pledges to prevent Lebanon from being used as a platform to attack Arab or friendly states.

Additionally, the government promises to launch a serious dialogue with the new Syrian authorities to address unresolved issues such as the demarcation of borders and finding a sustainable solution to the refugee crisis.

Socio-economic gaps and governance challenges

However, the tone becomes less reassuring when it comes to the socio-economic, public sector, and governance aspects of the ministerial statement. Previous governments often elaborated on these sections in detail, offering comprehensive policy recommendations, yet their track record in delivering on these promises remains questionable.

In contrast, the current government mentions these issues only in broad terms, without providing actionable strategies. Like its predecessors since 2019, the government has committed to finding an equitable solution for depositors’ funds through a comprehensive plan aligned with international best practices. However, all plans since 2020, including those discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have stalled on a critical issue: how to distribute the burden of financial losses among the government, the central bank, commercial banks, and depositors. This unresolved matter has been the “elephant in the room” for the past five and a half years. The government has also pledged to resume negotiations with the IMF to agree on a new program. Yet, the preconditions established under the staff-level agreement in April 2022 remain unfulfilled.

The statement also includes a commitment to establishing a universal social protection system without clear direction on how such a system would be financed. A more actionable goal would have been to implement the National Social Protection Strategy, developed with the support of UNICEF, the ILO, the World Bank, and other international partners. Likewise, the government could prioritize implementing the reforms to the National Social Security Fund, which introduces a new retirement and social protection regime.

Simultaneously, the government’s commitment to making appointments in the public sector overlooks a crucial issue: the depreciation of public sector salaries. Without addressing this problem, attracting and retaining competent candidates remains a serious challenge.

Aspirations Vs. realities

The ministerial statement outlines the government’s vision of the ideal Lebanese state. However, there is a fine line between aspiration and what can realistically be achieved. The government has committed to holding local elections within three months and implementing a rotation in the sectarian composition of senior public sector positions. Failure to fulfill these promises will inevitably raise doubts about the government’s ability to deliver on its commitments.

Given its short mandate, this government would gain more by focusing on tangible achievements and setting in motion reforms that can be realistically initiated within its limited timeframe while laying the groundwork for addressing longer-term challenges.

In the end, while the importance of expanding agricultural land is acknowledged, given Lebanon’s current resource constraints and the looming challenges of climate change, one must question the feasibility of achieving such a goal before the parliamentary elections of May 2026.

Khalil Gebara is an academic and researcher.

The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.