Lebanese government wins vote of confidence from parliament

By Stephanie Radi and Wassim Seifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) - The Lebanese government on Monday won the vote of confidence from the country’s parliament, ending 13 months of political deadlock in the country.

Following an eight-hour session of the parliament which was held in Beirut's UNESCO Palace to review the policy program of the 24-member Cabinet, 85 lawmakers gave the government their vote of confidence.

Some 15 lawmakers voted against the motion, while 17 others were absent from the session, said Nabih Berri, head of the parliament.

While the Lebanese parliament consists of 128 members, it is currently working with 117 as eight lawmakers resigned and three others passed away.

Before the vote took place, Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced his government’s policy program, stressing on working to save Lebanon from collapse, to end the Lebanese people's suffering and to strengthen Lebanon's ties with the Arab and European countries.

"The government will seek to restore the internal and external confidence in the Lebanese institutions, to stop the collapse and to start the recovery," Mikati said.

On Sept. 10, a new Lebanese government was announced 13 months after the government of Hassan Diab resigned following the horrific blast in the Port of Beirut in August 2020.

Since late 2019, Lebanon grapples with some of the severest domestic challenges including currency devaluation which lost almost all of its value against the dollar, along with shortages of fuel and medicines.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara