Lebanon’s Parliament convened on Tuesday to discuss the ministerial statement of the newly formed government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, ahead of an upcoming vote of confidence.

According to Speaker Nabih Berri, 75 MPs have requested to speak during the parliamentary debates.

The government is expected to face limited opposition, primarily from the Free Patriotic Movement bloc, which is not represented in the cabinet and has positioned itself in opposition.

The parliamentary session set the stage for the full presentation of the government's ministerial statement, which outlines its vision and priorities. Below is the full text of the statement, detailing the government's commitment to reform, national sovereignty, and the restoration of Lebanon’s stability:

We stand before you as a united government, fully committed to safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty, preserving the unity of its land and people, and working diligently to steer the country out of crises and hardships while addressing the aspirations of all citizens. Our government is dedicated to upholding freedoms, ensuring security, and protecting the fundamental rights of the Lebanese people, foremost among them the right to a dignified life. We aspire to live up to the name we have chosen for ourselves: the "Rescue and Reform"—a government that embarks on reform and mobilizes for rescue, fully aware that reform is the path to salvation.

The government acknowledges that recent months have witnessed aggression that has inflicted significant loss of life and property. This reality compels us to place our trust in the State, uphold national solidarity, and unite efforts to heal wounds, rebuild what has been destroyed, and mobilize Arab and international support to achieve this goal. As such, the government will expedite the reconstruction of areas devastated by Israeli aggression, repair damages, and secure funding through a dedicated and transparent fund that reassures citizens the State stands by them without discrimination.

At the heart of our mission is the reform and fortification of State sovereignty—an endeavor that, in some sectors, amounts to rebuilding from the ground up. For decades, the State has been plagued by structural weaknesses that have hindered its effectiveness, diminished its influence, and undermined its authority. Today, we must rise to meet the Lebanese people's aspirations for a capable, just, modern, and efficient State—one that restores their trust and meets their expectations.

The State we seek is one that fully assumes responsibility for national security, defending its borders, deterring aggressors, protecting its citizens, safeguarding its independence, and rallying Arab and international support to ensure Lebanon’s protection. Therefore, the government reaffirms its commitment to its obligations, particularly the full and unselective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It also reiterates the provisions outlined in this and other relevant resolutions concerning Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence within its internationally recognized borders, as stipulated in the 1949 Armistice Agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Furthermore, the government upholds the arrangements regarding the cessation of hostilities, as approved by the previous administration on November 27, 2024.

In adherence to the Taif Accord, the government is committed to taking all necessary measures to liberate Lebanese territories still under Israeli occupation, extend State sovereignty across its entire land, exclusively through its own forces, and deploy the Lebanese Army along Lebanon’s internationally recognized borders. It also affirms Lebanon’s right to self-defense in the event of aggression, in accordance with the United Nations Charter. The government also calls for the full implementation of the President’s inaugural address, which upholds the State’s exclusive right to bear arms. Additionally, it calls for national dialogue on a comprehensive defense policy within a broader national security strategy encompassing diplomatic, economic, and military dimensions. 

We seek a State that holds the sole authority to decide matters of war and peace—a State whose army operates under a defensive combat doctrine, committed to protecting the people and engaging in conflict strictly within the bounds of the Constitution. To this end, the government will work to empower Lebanon’s legitimate armed forces by increasing personnel, enhancing training, and equipping them with the necessary resources. This will enable them to effectively control and secure Lebanon’s borders—south, east, north, and maritime—while preventing smuggling and combating terrorism.

We seek a State that remains true to the Constitution and the National Accord Document adopted in Taif. This commitment requires the full implementation of unexecuted provisions of the Accord and the rectification of past misapplications. The duty of reform also entails preparing new legislative initiatives and enacting the necessary regulations to ensure the effective application of existing laws.

We seek a State that upholds neutrality in legitimate political competition among parties and groups. To that end, our government is committed to holding municipal, mukhtar (local heads), and parliamentary elections on schedule, ensuring the State’s impartiality and refraining from any bias or interference in the electoral process. We pledge full transparency in organizing elections and announcing their results.

We seek a State with strong and effective public administrations and institutions. This requires the restructuring of the public sector and the urgent appointment of qualified and honest professionals to fill numerous vacancies—individuals dedicated to serving the nation, of whom there are many. Appointments to vacant senior positions will be based on merit and competence while maintaining equal representation between Christians and Muslims, without assigning any position to a specific sect, in accordance with Article 95 of the Constitution. Additionally, it is crucial to establish or activate regulatory bodies in key sectors such as electricity, telecommunications, civil aviation, and cannabis, among others, while strengthening oversight institutions, enhancing accountability, eliminating waste and corruption, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and improving public sector productivity.

We seek a State that ensures justice for all, without favoritism or neglect in delivering rightful verdicts. To achieve this, Lebanon’s judiciary must regain the full trust of its people and the international community. This necessitates reinforcing judicial independence—across criminal, administrative, and financial courts—and enacting reforms that align with the highest international standards, shielding the judiciary from interference and undue pressure. The government will expedite judicial appointments and formations, preventing any obstruction or delay in critical investigations, especially in cases such as the Beirut Port explosion as well as financial and banking corruption. Additionally, the government will advance judicial digitization, facilitate citizen access to legal information, and implement prison reforms. The government remains committed to strengthening international judicial cooperation in the fight against crime and corruption. Furthermore, it will enforce the law on forcibly disappeared and missing persons, support the relevant national commission, and continue pursuing the case of Imam Musa al-Sadr’s disappearance.

We seek a State that assumes full responsibility for protecting its citizens from all forms of harm, including murder, looting, theft, and other crimes. This requires equipping and training internal security forces to effectively tackle all security threats, from combating drug trafficking and money laundering to enforcing traffic safety laws.

We seek a State that strengthens its financial resources through sound fiscal policies that boost revenues while maintaining financial stability. This necessitates improving tax and customs collection, combating illicit trade and smuggling, and eliminating financial waste. The government will negotiate a new program with the International Monetary Fund and work toward economic recovery, which cannot be achieved without restructuring the banking sector to restore economic activity. Prioritizing the protection of deposits, the government will implement a comprehensive plan aligned with the highest international standards, ensuring the rights of depositors. We trust that Parliament will respond by enacting the necessary legislation to support this process.

We seek a State that fosters economic growth, ensuring its benefits reach all social segments while restoring investor confidence in Lebanon and abroad. This will be achieved by encouraging private-sector participation, attracting investment, supporting productive sectors, and generating job opportunities for young people. Economic development requires enhancing the quality of local industries, expanding export opportunities, developing industrial zones, increasing cultivated land, promoting sustainable agriculture adapted to climate change, encouraging sound agricultural production, food industries, and opening markets to Lebanese products, while boosting the benefits of regional and international trade agreements.

The state must work on reforming and developing the telecommunications sector, fully implementing the Telecommunications Services Regulation Law. This applies equally to the transportation sector, the road network, and the development of ports, particularly the ports of Beirut and Tripoli, including the special economic zone, as well as the operation of René Mouawad Airport in Qleiat for its developmental importance. Additionally, the government's plan includes expanding and upgrading Rafic Hariri International Airport and strictly enforcing laws related to marine and river properties.

We want a state that fully assumes its responsibility for reforming the water and electricity sectors, bringing Lebanon out of darkness and supplying institutions with energy. This requires starting to gradually increase electricity supply hours at the lowest possible cost. In the energy sector, the government will also seek to resume work in oil and gas exploration.

We want a state that works on improving the quality of education in Lebanon and its role in social integration. This includes strengthening public education, especially the Lebanese University, and supporting vocational and technical education. It also protects private education and enhances state oversight of private schools and universities. The government is committed to empowering the educational staff, improving their working conditions, and addressing educational issues holistically, aiming to restore Lebanon's leadership role in school and university education for its citizens and the region, and in producing and disseminating knowledge, embracing the latest tools for digital transformation.

We want a state that strengthens the research and development system, particularly the National Council for Scientific Research, to engage Lebanese researchers in finding solutions to local challenges, contributing to public policy development, and enhancing Lebanon's position in the global knowledge map. Full sovereignty cannot be achieved without scientific sovereignty. The government will work on establishing a Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence, which will create and implement an ambitious future strategy to attract Lebanese talent, stimulate investment in advanced sectors, accelerate the adoption of modern technologies, encourage startups, and foster innovation.

We want a state that approaches women's issues from the perspective of rights and equality in citizenship, necessitating a review of discriminatory laws and working legislatively and executively to establish policies that guarantee equality and ensure the rights of women. The government will also work on strengthening family protection laws, addressing violence against women and children, and providing care and protection for people with disabilities, particularly those with mental health issues.

We want a state that prioritizes protecting the environment, combating climate change, and preserving natural resources, which are vital to the sustainability of our future. This requires creating a clean and safe environment through the implementation of environmental protection laws, solid waste management, and policies to ensure the best use of Lebanon's water resources. We must also put in place programs to support green investments, reduce carbon emissions, promote environmental awareness, and strengthen Lebanon's participation in international environmental agreements.

We want a state that honors the dignity of its people, is committed to their rights, and aspires to a better future for its generations, without discrimination. It is a state that serves its citizens equally, transcending all forms of sectarianism and division, and works to restore Lebanon to its rightful place as a model for freedom, peace, and human dignity.

This is the Lebanon we want.