Lebanon announces government after months of deadlock
Lebanon announced the formation of a government on Thursday ending over eight months of wrangling amid heightened fears of a major economic collapse. The Western-backed Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri now faces a big challenge in delivering the reforms needed to address dire public finances and unlock billions of dollars in pledged aid and loans to boost growth. Hariri, who will head a 30-member cabinet, said bold moves were needed without delay to address chronic problems facing the heavily indebted state. It has been a difficult political period, especially after the elections, and we must turn the page and start working Saad Hariri, Lebanon’s PM “We are facing economic, financial, social and administrative challenges,” Hariri said at a press conference in Beirut after the announcement. “It has been a difficult political period, especially after the elections, and we must turn the page and start working,” he said. Vicky Khoury, a member of the Sabaa Party, which eman