Spotlight
French President Emmanuel Macron “congratulates himself on the step of the Lebanese government’s formation,” the Elysee Palace said, a few hours after Prime Minister Najib Miqati formed his third government.
“Macron wishes Miqati success in his mission in the service of the people,” the Palace added.

Hours after his third government was formed, Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped for progress in Lebanon’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
“We are implementing its conditions and awaiting its assistance,” Miqati said in an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Asharq TV.

Ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday announced his support for new Prime Minister Najib Miqati in “his vital mission to stop the collapse and launch reforms.”

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Friday commented on the formation of the new government led by Najib Miqati.
“Unfortunately, we witnessed a year of delay that could have spared the Lebanese a lot of pain,” Bassil tweeted, a few hours after the cabinet was formed.

President Aoun assured Friday that "the new government will begin addressing the concerns of the Lebanese.”
“We will get out of Hell and rise from the abyss,” Aoun said to Annahar newspaper, adding that “we are living under siege, because of (Syrian) displacement and sanctions.”

The line-up of Najib Miqati’s 24-minister government was announced on Friday, 45 days after the veteran politician and Lebanon’s richest man was tasked with putting together a new cabinet and more than a year after the previous government’s resignation.
Below is the full line-up as announced by the secretary general of the council of ministers:

The new Lebanese government was formed on Friday, more than a year after the resignation of Hassan Diab’s cabinet and 45 days after Najib Miqati was tasked with putting together a new government.
President Michel Aoun and PM-designate Najib Miqati “have signed the decree of the new government’s formation in the presence of Speaker Nabih Berri,” the Presidency announced.

President Michel Aoun met Thursday with caretaker Minister of Energy Raymond Ghajar.
The latter briefed Aoun on the talks he held in The Amman meeting to import gas and electricity to Lebanon through Syria.

The new cabinet will be formed “within hours,” TV networks said on Friday.
“PM-designate (Najib) Miqati informed me minutes ago that things have literally been finalized and that the cabinet will be formed before or after the Friday prayer,” Lebanese journalist Abbas Daher told al-Jadeed TV Friday morning.

Lebanon's long-awaited ration card plan was launched Thursday by caretaker Economy Minister Raoul Nehme and caretaker Social Affairs Minister Ramzi Msharrafiyeh.
