Lebanon names diplomat Mustapha Adib as new PM

Lebanon names diplomat Mustapha Adib as new PM

Lebanon has named diplomat Mustapha Abid as the country’s new premier on Monday, in a bid to steer the country through a deep economic and political crisis.
1 min read
31 August, 2020
Lebanon's ambassador to Germany, Mustapha Adib, has been asked to form a new government [Getty]
A Lebanese diplomat has been appointed to form a new government in crisis-hit Lebanon on Monday after winning the backing of major political parties.

President Michel Aoun asked Lebanon's ambassador to Germany, Mustapha Adib, to form a new government after he secured 90 votes in the 128-member parliament.

Adib told reporters his number one priority will be to quickly form a new government which will be able to implement crucial reforms to regain the trust of the Lebanese and international community.

"Now is not the time for words and promises," he said in his first statement. "Now is the time to get to work to form a government that can regain the trust of people."

Abid's appointment comes weeks after a devastating explosion in Beirut, compounding the country's already severe economic crisis.

Adib has been Lebanon's ambassador to Germany since 2013 and his name only emerged on Sunday to replace Hassan Diab, whose government resigned in the aftermath of the deadly 4 August blast at Beirut port.

The 48-year-old was born in the northern city of Tripoli and is a Sunni Muslim, making him eligible to become prime minister under Lebanon's sectarian-based power-sharing system.

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