Lebanon Has A New PM

A Saad Hariri supporter fired a gun on Saturday in celebration. Mr. Hariri, shown in a poster at right, is the leader of the Western-aligned parliamentary majority. Jamal Saidi/Reuters

Lebanon Chooses Saad Hariri as Premier -- New York Times

CAIRO — Saad Hariri, the son of Lebanon’s slain former prime minister and the leader of its Western-aligned parliamentary majority, will serve as Lebanon’s next prime minister, the nation’s president announced Saturday.

Mr. Hariri, 39, who was thrust into a leadership role when his father, Rafik, was assassinated in 2005, will now begin assembling a cabinet to help manage a state that has been plagued by war, deep political divisions and debt of more than $50 billion.

He has already said he would assemble a unity government that would include members of the opposition, although it was unclear if the minority alliance led by Hezbollah, which remains the nation’s most powerful political and military force, would hold the veto power it did in the last government.

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Update: In Lebanon, Saad Hariri assumes prime minister's post -- L.A. Times

My Comment: Lebanon may have a new PM, but Hezbollah and their allies still have a great deal of influence, and they rule a good portion of the country independently from the central government.