Breaking: Latest government line-up revealed

Both Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have retained four ministerial positions in the new government, but they had agreed on the selection of a fifth in coordination with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, *Nidaa al-Watan* added. The point is, that fifth minister has not yet been agreed upon, yet Hezbollah and Amal insist that their suggestions regarding the selection of that minister should be taken into account.

The parties have proposed the following for the Shiite cabinet representation: Yassine Jaber for finance, Nassif Siqlawi for industry, Tamara al-Zein for the environment, and Rakan Nassereddine for health. For the fifth Shiite ministerial post, Aoun and Salam have pre­lim­i­nar­ily agreed to pro­pose Lamia Moubayed, but Hezbol­lah and Amal insist they want to have their say in that matter.

For the Druze community, two ministers close to Progressive Socialist Party, Nizar al-Hani for agriculture and Fayez Rasamni for public works are present within this formation.

As for Sunni ministers, a consensus has thus far been made on Rima Karami for education, Hanine al-Sayyed for social affairs, Ahmad al-Hajjar for interior and Amer al-Bsat for economy; however, all Sunni allocation options are subject to change after MP Ahmad al-Kheir’s scheduled visit at Baabda.

President Aoun will appoint Naji Abi Assi as the foreign affairs minister, while a retired brigadier general will be appointed to the defense ministry.

The Lebanese Forces have been granted key portfolios: energy, Joe Saddi; tourism, Tony al-Rami; and telecommunications, Kamal Shehadeh. Further, *Nidaa al-Watan* reports that the LF could also obtain a fourth ministry, which would likely represent the Greek Catholic community.

Other key appointments include Tarek Mitri as Deputy Prime Minister, Ghassan Salameh for culture and Adel Nassar (Justice/Kataeb Party/Maronite). The Marada Movement has nominated Ziad Ramez al-Khazen for the information ministry while the Tashnag Party has nominated Maral Toutelian for youth and sports.