Lebanese leaders reached an agreement over a cabinet line-up, headed by Najib Mikati as prime minister, after weeks of wrangling over the distribution of government ministries between Lebanon’s various political parties.

Mikati announced the government formation following a meeting with President Michel Aoun and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri at the Baabda place.

Mikati urged the Lebanese people to fasten their seatbelts as the country was in a state of an emergency landing.

“The new government will work until the end of the current parliamentary session and then hold elections. We must hold elections on time, that is my intention,” he said.

In 2005, Najib Azmi Mikati headed an interim government that supervised the general election following the withdrawal of Syrian troops.

In 2011, he formed his second government backed by the March 8 alliance, before he resigned in 2013.

He was a member of parliament for Tripoli from 2000 to 2005 and was re-elected in 2009 and 2018. In July 2021, he was designated as PM.

According to Forbes, he is the richest man in Lebanon, with a net worth of $2.5 billion in 2021. (ILKHA)