Nawaf Salam has been named Lebanon’s new prime minister after receiving the support of 84 out of 128 lawmakers in the parliamentary consultations initiated by the country’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun.

A meeting will be held on Tuesday between President Joseph Aoun, the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and the designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. 

Under Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, the post of prime minister is reserved for a Sunni Muslim. This has led to a highly anticipated race between two prominent contenders: the current caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, and Nawaf Salam, who currently serves as the President of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Mikati garnered 9 nominations. On the other hand, Salam, a distinguished jurist with extensive experience in both diplomacy and law, emerged as the frontrunner with a strong mandate. 

35 lawmakers, notably those affiliated to the Amal-Hezbollah Shiite duo, refrained from naming anyone for the prime minister position.

Now that he has been designated as prime minister, Salam’s next task is to form a new government that can address Lebanon's challenges, including a collapsing economy and a fractured political landscape.

The government formation process in Lebanon is complex and often contentious, as it requires extensive negotiations between political parties to ensure a balance of power among Lebanon’s various political forces.

As Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam faces the formidable challenge of uniting the country’s fractured political landscape while navigating international expectations and the demands of Lebanon’s people for meaningful reforms. His success will depend on his ability to build a government that not only addresses Lebanon’s immediate needs but also lays the foundation for long-term stability and recovery.