Lebanon's Ambassador To Germany Replaces Hassan Diab As Prime Minister

Mustapha Adib (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Lebanese Ambassador to Germany Mustapha Adib will be appointed as the prime minister (PM) of Lebanon. The election comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Beirut to press for long overdue reforms. The hope is that this Middle Eastern country can get out of this deep crisis.

President Macron has stolen international attention in a bid to enable Lebanon's fragile leaders to overcome the financial crisis that has devastated Lebanon's economy. To make matters worse, there was a large explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, which killed around 190 people.

Mustapha Adib emerged as a frontrunner for the position of Prime Minister of Lebanon after being nominated by former PM Hassan Diab and Saad al-Hariri who heads Lebanon's largest Sunni Muslim party. They said the position of Prime Minister of Lebanon must be filled by a Sunni.

The Hariri Future Movement, the powerful Shia party backed by Iran, Hezbollah, and the Progressive Socialist Party led by Druze politician Walid Jumblatt have also nominated Adib as prime minister of Lebanon. The idea for Adib's appointment as PM was conveyed at a formal consultation held by Lebanese President Michel Aoun.

Aoun, a Maronite Christian, must name the candidate with the most support among lawmakers. Adib then appeared in the majority line.

Senior Lebanese officials said Macron had put pressure on Lebanese leaders to approve a candidate within 48 hours before a consensus emerged on Adib. Last week, Lebanese leaders hit a stalemate over who should be the next Lebanese prime minister.

Adib has a doctorate in law and political science. He has previously served as an adviser to Mikati and was ambassador to Germany since 2013.

After the Lebanese PM has been appointed, the process of forming a new government will begin. Until a new government is agreed upon, the Lebanese government, which resigned on August 10, will continue in its executive capacity.

The Lebanese financial crisis has sunk the currency as much as 80% since October. In addition, the financial crisis also locked savers from their savings in a crippled banking system and fueled poverty and unemployment.