STORY: Lebanon's president appoints Nawaf Salam as new PM
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 13, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 14, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:27
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. shot of Baabda presidential palace entrance 
2. various of Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and member of parliament Jamil El Sayed
3. various of Lebanese politicians
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): ANTOINE SHOUKEIR, Director general of the presidency of Lebanon 
5. various of Baabda presidential palace 

STORYLINE:

Nawaf Salam, president of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, was named Lebanon's new prime minister and tasked with forming a new government on Monday, the Lebanese presidency announced in a statement.

The appointment followed Salam's garnering of 84 out of 128 parliamentary votes during binding consultations conducted by President Joseph Aoun.

According to the statement, President Aoun summoned Salam to assign him the role. However, Salam is currently abroad and is scheduled to return on Tuesday.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic): ANTOINE SHOUKEIR, Director general of the presidency of Lebanon
"The following statement was issued by the Directorate General of the Presidency: according to item 2 of the article 53 of the constitution, concerning the nomination of the Prime Minister, President General Joseph Aoun held the mandatory parliamentary consultations today Monday, January 13, 2025. And after consulting with the Speaker and informed him officially of the results of the consultations, the President summoned Judge Nawaf Salam to charge him with the task of forming the new government, knowing that he is currently outside the country and will be back tomorrow. The results were as follows: Salam 84, former PM Mikati 9 votes, and no designation 33 votes."

Under Lebanon's prevailing political norms, the position of prime minister is traditionally held by a Sunni Muslim, while the president is always a Maronite Christian, and the parliamentary speaker is a Shiite Muslim.

Born into a prominent political family in 1953, Salam is a Sunni Muslim. His uncle, Saeb Salam, served as prime minister multiple times before Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, and his cousin, Tammam Salam, held the same position from 2014 to 2016.

Salam holds a master's degree in law from Harvard University and two doctorates -- in history and political science -- from the Sorbonne University. He also served as Lebanon's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations from 2007 to 2017.

Salam's appointment comes as Lebanon emerges from a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. In addition to post-conflict reconstruction, the country faces significant challenges, including deep economic woes.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)