Cabinet Agreed After 9 Months; Hariri To Retain Top Post

Lebanese political leaders have agreed to a new governing coalition after nine months of negotiations, reports Annahar (Lebanon). 

On Thursday, political parties announced a cabinet headed by current Prime Minister Saad Hariri. While Hariri's party lost more than a third of its seats, he remains the leading Sunni lawmaker. The prime minister post is reserved for Sunnis under Lebanon's system, which reserves a top job for each of the three largest religious groups. 

Under the deal, Elias Bou Saab will head the defense ministry, replacing Yaacoub Sarraf. Gebran Bassil will remain foreign minister. Both are members of the Free Patriotic Movement, political allies of Hezbollah, noted Reuters.  

The 30-member Cabinet balances representation between the pro-Syria March 8 alliance, the anti-Syrian March 14 alliance and independent parties, preventing any group from securing a veto, which requires 11 votes. 

Hezbollah members will head the health ministry and the youth and sports ministry. Hezbollah's Mahmoud Qamati will become the state minister for parliamentary affairs, reported the Arab News (Saudi Arabia). 

The new government will face challenges including reining in deficits, developing the country's ailing infrastructure and navigating U.S. sanctions against Hezbollah, said analysts.