Lebanese political groups have agreed on the formation of a new government on Thursday, ending a stalemate that lasted for nine months.
Politicians had been caught in a tug-of-war since the country's >parliamentary elections in May 2018, but they have finally formed a 30-member Cabinet headed by Saad Hariri.
Here's what you should know about the long-awaited government:
1. There is no clear winner or loser
According to >TIME, rival parties reached consensus after approving of Sunni ministers backed by Shiite group Hezbollah.
The deadlock ended "with no clear winners or losers" since neither party secured veto power, which is equivalent to 11 ministries.
The Daily Star reports that the "four so-called sovereign portfolios" will remain controlled by the same political factions: The Foreign and Defense ministries went to the Free Patriotic Movement, the Interior Ministry to the Future Movement, and the Finance Ministry to the Amal Movement.
2. The Cabinet is set to deal with the country's economic woes
Prime Minister Hariri told media outlets the economy will be his Cabinet's main priority.
"It has been a difficult political period, especially after the elections, and we must turn the page and start working," he said at a press conference.
This comes as Lebanon faces public debt amounting to an alarming "$84 billion, or 155 percent of the gross domestic product," while the unemployment rate stands at around 36 percent. The country is also dealing with ailing infrastructure.
The new Cabinet will be able to unlock billions of dollars in aid pledged at last year's CEDRE conference in Paris, where the World Bank promised Lebanon $4 billion in soft loans. Other countries and financial institutions also vowed to fund investment and infrastructure projects.
3. The Cabinet includes an unprecedented number of female ministers
For the first time in the country's history, four female ministers will take office. Notably, the powerful Ministry of Interior will be headed by a woman, Future Movement's Raya Al Hassan, who has previously served as a finance minister. Meanwhile, >organization and strategy consultant Nada Bustani will run the Ministry of Energy and Water.
Journalist May Chidiac was named as a state minister for administrative development, while businesswoman and former news anchor Violette Safadi will serve as a state minister for youth and women's affairs, replacing her> male predecessor Jean Oghassabian.
However, people have criticized the name of the ministry Safadi will take on, the Ministry of State for the Social and Economic Rehabilitation of Youth and Women, condemning the use of "rehabilitation" and calling upon the minister to modify the title.
4. The human rights and corruption ministries were scrapped
The State Ministry for Human Rights and the State Ministry for Combating Corruption were >introduced in 2016, headed by Ayman Choucair and Nicolas Tueni, respectively.
However, the government no longer includes ministries dedicated to human rights or anti-corruption.
5. The Cabinet will reportedly hold its first meeting on Saturday
Ministers must now agree on a new ministerial statement, which will tackle controversial topics such as Hezbollah's weapons, the national defense strategy as well as Lebanon's official relationship with Syria.
6. Lebanese are jaded
Many Lebanese social media users expressed their frustration with the country's political scene, saying they do not anticipate any concrete change as long as current leaders continue to be in charge.
Meanwhile, others celebrated the news and asserted that they still have hope in the country's future.