October 24, 2026
The mechanism for approving government appointments in Lebanon raises new questions, against the backdrop of the crisis in appointing the governor of Nabatieh, which ended with his apology due to irregularities that marred his appointment.
In this context, the Council of Ministers appointed Engineer Musa Muhammad Awada as a member of the Board of Directors of the Joint Railway and Transport Authority, at a time when he holds the presidency and membership of the Zefta Municipality.
This dual function creates a clear suspicion of legal objection. Article 22 of Law No. 665/1997 (which amends Article 26 of the Municipal Law) prohibits combining the presidency or membership of municipal councils with the presidency or membership of the boards of directors of independent departments and public institutions.
In the face of this situation, it has become necessary for the Minister of the Interior and Municipalities to verify that Awada’s legal status has been settled, and to verify that he submitted his resignation from the mayor’s office and membership of its council, and to accept it in accordance with the approved legal procedures, as a basic condition prior to issuing his appointment decree.
