Prime Minister Nawaf Salam Delivers Ministerial Statement, Outlining Key Government Commitments

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam Delivers Ministerial Statement, Outlining Key Government Commitments

Beirut – Prime Minister Nawaf Salam delivered the ministerial statement before the Lebanese Parliament today, affirming the government’s dedication to safeguarding the Lebanese people’s freedoms, security, and fundamental rights. He emphasized that his administration aims to live up to its name as a “Government of Salvation and Reform.”

Salam acknowledged Lebanon’s challenges, particularly the recent aggression, stressing the urgent need for reconstruction and mobilization of resources. He announced that the government is committed to rebuilding the damaged areas and will establish a dedicated fund to finance these efforts.

The Prime Minister underscored that the government’s primary objective is to establish a state governed by the rule of law, strengthen institutions, and reinforce national sovereignty. “The state we aspire to is one that fully assumes its responsibility to protect the country,” he declared.

Salam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to taking necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories still under Israeli occupation and to assert full state sovereignty exclusively through national security forces.

“We seek a state with full authority over decisions of war and peace,” he stated, adding, “We want a government that is loyal to the constitution and the national accord, ensuring the implementation of all unfulfilled provisions.”

He emphasized the government’s commitment to holding municipal, mayoral, and parliamentary elections on schedule. Additionally, he highlighted the need to modernize and restructure the public sector to align with contemporary standards and digital transformation initiatives.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of meritocracy in government appointments, ensuring that positions are awarded based on competence and efficiency. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding justice by ensuring the independence of the judicial, administrative, and financial systems while undertaking necessary reforms following international standards.

Salam called for expediting judicial appointments and facilitating the work of investigators, particularly in the Beirut port explosion case. He reiterated the government’s plan to automate the judicial system and implement prison reforms. Furthermore, he affirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing the law on enforced disappearances, pursuing the case of Musa al-Sadr’s disappearance, and advocating for Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons.

On economic policy, Salam stated that the government will negotiate a new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and implement a comprehensive plan to safeguard depositors’ rights.

Regarding infrastructure and development, he stressed the importance of improving the telecommunications sector, operationalizing Rene Moawad Airport in Qlayaat, and enforcing strict regulations concerning marine and river properties. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resuming oil and gas exploration.

Concluding his statement, Salam emphasized the government’s commitment to reforming the National Social Security Fund. He firmly rejected any form of Palestinian settlement in Lebanon and reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for the right of return for Palestinian refugees to their homeland.