Who is Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s PM-designate amid political shift?

Pro-reform movement sees new hope with Salam’s appointment as prime minister 

Who is Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s PM-designate amid political shift?

Pro-reform movement sees new hope with Salam’s appointment as prime Minister 

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam arrives at the presidential palace in Baabda to meet with President 

Beirut, Lebanon – The appointment of Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as prime minister of Lebanon has many Lebanese feeling optimistic.

His success in securing enough votes in parliament on Monday caps off a rapid period of political change after Joseph Aoun was elected president last week, filling a position that had been vacant since 2022.

Aoun designated Salam to form a government on Monday, and he could serve as prime minister at the very least until Lebanon’s next parliamentary elections in 2026

Who is Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s PM-designate amid political shift?

Pro-reform movement sees new hope with Salam’s appointment as prime minister

Nawaf Salam waves

Lebanse Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam arrives at the presidential palace in Baabda to meet with President Joseph Aoun on January 14, 2025, the day he told the country: 'Enough wasted opportunities

Beirut, Lebanon – The appointment of Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as prime minister of Lebanon has many Lebanese feeling optimistic.

His success in securing enough votes in parliament on Monday caps off a rapid period of political change after Joseph Aoun was elected president last week, filling a position that had been vacant since 2022

Aoun designated Salam to form a government on Monday, and he could serve as prime minister at the very least until Lebanon’s next parliamentary elections in 2026.

His victory is seen as a boon for the pro-reform movement, having come after Salam’s failure to secure enough votes in 2022, losing the premiership to the man he is now replacing, Najib Mikati.

The reform movement, which took to the streets in mass protests that began on October 17, 2019, sees Salam as a man who can speak for them. While he is a member of a prominent Beiruti family, he has not held political office domestically and has instead reached prominent positions abroad.

“He represents the aspirations of the October 17 movement,” Dalal Mawad, a Lebanese journalist and author, told Al Jazeera. “This is a man who has a very clear political vision and beliefs.”

“We have wasted many opportunities to build the state,” he said. “Enough wasted opportunities.”