Who is Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s New Prime Minister-Designate?
A Reform Advocate Takes the Helm Amid Political Shifts
Beirut, Lebanon – The appointment of Nawaf Salam, president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as Lebanon’s prime minister-designate has ignited a sense of optimism among many Lebanese citizens.
Salam’s confirmation on Monday follows a period of rapid political transition, occurring just days after Joseph Aoun was elected president, filling a post that had remained vacant since 2022.
Designated to form a new government, Salam is expected to serve at least until Lebanon’s next parliamentary elections in 2026. His selection is seen as a victory for the pro-reform movement, particularly after his unsuccessful bid in 2022 when he lost to outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The movement that emerged from the October 17, 2019 protests views Salam as a figure who embodies their aspirations. While he hails from a well-established Beiruti family, his political career has been shaped primarily on the international stage rather than within Lebanon’s domestic sphere.
“He represents the aspirations of the October 17 movement,” said Dalal Mawad, a Lebanese journalist and author. “He is a man with a clear political vision and firm beliefs.”
A Vision for Reform
Salam outlined his priorities in his first speech as prime minister-designate on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgency of governance reform.
“We have wasted many opportunities to build the state,” he declared. “Enough wasted opportunities.”
Born in Beirut in 1953, Salam’s professional background is deeply rooted in academia and international law. He has lectured at prestigious institutions, including the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Sorbonne in Paris, and Harvard University.
Between 2007 and 2017, Salam served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations, a role in which he actively shaped Lebanon’s foreign policy. He later joined the ICJ in 2018 and was appointed its president in 2024. During his tenure, he presided over South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel and ruled against the legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Colleagues and political analysts describe Salam as a principled leader with a deep understanding of Lebanon’s political system and its flaws.
“He is a strong advocate for Palestinian rights, Lebanon’s Arab identity, and the need for a new social contract based on democratic citizenship rather than confessionalism,” said Karim Emile Bitar, a political analyst familiar with Salam’s work.
Challenges and Opportunities
Lebanon’s political system is structured along sectarian lines, where key leadership positions are distributed based on religious affiliation. As a Sunni Muslim, Salam is eligible for the role of prime minister but not for the presidency, which is reserved for a Maronite Christian.
“He is a man of integrity,” said Hilal Khashan, a political scientist at AUB. “He understands the need for political reform, and issues like accountability, transparency, and governance mean a great deal to him.”
Salam’s agenda is expected to prioritize judicial independence and accountability, particularly in relation to the Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020, and the country’s ongoing banking crisis.
“He has always been a proponent of reform, change, and progressive movements,” said political scientist Ziad Majed. “The challenge now is translating that into tangible policy.”
A Political Shift in Lebanon?
Despite his family’s political legacy—two of his relatives have previously served as prime ministers—Salam is widely regarded as a technocrat rather than a traditional politician.
His appointment comes amid shifting regional dynamics, including a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, a decline in Iran’s influence, and the weakening of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. These changes have led to increased engagement from Western and Gulf states, which had previously distanced themselves due to Hezbollah’s significant role in Lebanon.
Salam and President Aoun’s appointments are seen as signs of Hezbollah’s waning influence, particularly following the loss of key Hezbollah leaders in the ongoing conflict with Israel. However, whether Salam will be able to implement the reforms he envisions remains uncertain. Hezbollah and its allies may resist measures they perceive as weakening Lebanon’s stance against Israel or aligning it too closely with Western interests.
In his speech on Tuesday, Salam extended an olive branch to all factions, including Hezbollah, acknowledging the criticism surrounding his nomination.
For now, he remains confident that he can pursue his national agenda.
“He was very deliberate in setting conditions for taking this role,” Mawad noted. “He wouldn’t have accepted the job if it was set up for failure. He knows Lebanon better than most.”