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1 1 (October 18, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/goveeqt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional ~ Research Service inf arming the legisIative debate since 1914____________________ Lebanon: New Mikati Government Faces Challenges October 18, 2021 After thirteen months of paralysis, and facing economic crisis, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and President Michel Aoun agreed on the composition of a new government in September 2021, following mediation efforts by France and Iran. The new government-dominated by a coalition of Hezbollah and its political allies-faces pressure to implement wide-ranging reforms sought by international donors as a prerequisite for urgently needed economic assistance. The government's mandate will expire following parliamentary elections scheduled for early 2022. The government will administer these elections amid concerns that amendments to the electoral law could limit the impact of opposition voters and candidates. The New Government What is the political composition of the new government? The new government allots cabinet seats in equal thirds to the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament (the country's most senior Christian, Sunni, and Shi' a officials, respectively). Although each leader's share within the government is equal, the March 8 political coalition-which seeks close ties with Syria and Iran-holds a large majority of seats (see Table 1). This reflects the March 8 majority in Parliament as well as the decision by some parties in the rival March 14 coalition-which opposes Syrian and Iranian influence in Lebanon- not to participate in the new government. Ministers were nominated by political parties, but many are technocrats. Does any party hold the blocking third? Amajor obstacle in government formation was the reported insistence by March 8-aligned President Aoun that the Free Patriotic Movement (led by his son-in-law) be permitted to name one-third plus one of cabinet ministers (known as the blocking third) which would carry de facto veto power. Prime Minister Mikati has stated that there is no blocking third in the new government. However, ambiguity as to the alignment of two independent Christian ministers appointed as part of the prime minister's share makes it difficult to analyze the balance of power within the government, according to one Lebanese analysis. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11778 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Membersand Committeesof Congress

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