Hezbollah and ‘Amal Movement's’ Power Struggle Stalls Lebanon's Government

Hezbollah and “the Amal Movement,” led by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, known collectively as the "Shiite duo," continue to obstruct the formation of the new government by appointed Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam. 

They are attempting to impose ministerial names outside of the "competency spectrum."

Since Lebanese President Joseph Aoun tasked the 71-year-old Salam with forming the government on January 13, 2025, he has encountered resistance from the Shiite duo, who oppose his efforts to apply the criteria he set for the new government, which aims to move away from sectarian power-sharing.

Names Conflict

Salam envisions his cabinet as being composed of independents and technocrats, yet he finds himself locked in an overt struggle with the "Shiite duo," who are determined to impose specific names for key ministries.

Questions have arisen about the duo’s ability to maintain their obstructionist tactics in the cabinet formation process, keeping Salam entangled in a web of names while simultaneously striking a blow to Aoun, who secured the presidency without Hezbollah being able to block his election in parliament.

Lebanese sources suggest that the duo’s attempts to preserve their influence and claim a significant share of cabinet positions, while attempting to bend Salam’s will, clash with American objectives. 

This was underscored by Trump’s Middle East and Arab affairs advisor, Massad Boulos, who stressed the importance of not reappointing those linked to the previous regime in order to restore confidence in Lebanon and its international standing.

“U.S. seeks to block Hezbollah ally from naming Lebanon finance minister [...] U.S. move appears aimed at curbing Iran-backed group's influence within Lebanon's government,” Reuters reported.

This direct American intervention in Lebanon’s traditionally sectarian power-sharing system appears aimed at capitalizing on shifts in the regional balance of power, particularly following Hezbollah's weakening after its recent confrontation with “Israel,” and the fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Hezbollah has long been involved in nominating ministers in Lebanon, in coordination with its ally, “the Shiite Amal Movement,” which has backed every finance minister since 2014.

However, the five sources told Reuters that U.S. officials are keen to see this influence wane with the formation of Salam’s new government. 

They conveyed messages to Salam and Aoun—who received U.S. backing during his tenure as army commander and his election as president in January 2025—indicating that Hezbollah should not be included in the next cabinet.

Recently, the "Shiite duo" has suggested American approval for naming Yassin Jaber as finance portfolio, under the assumption that the Shiite duo is behind his nomination for the role.

Local outlet Nidaa al-Watan reported that the atmosphere in Baabda Palace became positive after the Shiite duo submitted their proposed names to Salam, including Jaber for finance, a member of the Rahhal family for health, Tamara Zein for environment, and a fourth unconfirmed position, alongside a fifth Shiite ministry.

However, the proposal of a minister aligned with the duo faces fierce opposition from the majority who nominated Salam. Should their demand not be met, they insist on names that reflect their own representation in other ministries, which could undermine Salam’s vision for a non-sectarian government.

Lebanese Fears

The situation appears to require further negotiations, along with the imminent intervention of the Quintet Committee on Lebanon, which comprises representatives from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. 

The committee was established to address the vacant presidency when the term of former President Michel Aoun ended in October 2022.

Nevertheless, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri maintains that he remains open to discussions regarding the names put forward for positions, other than the finance ministry, and is willing to revise them until the final nominations are agreed upon following consultation.

According to Al-Estiklal, Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, pointed out that “Hezbollah or its allies’ participation in Salam’s government would signal to the US that Lebanon has not distanced itself from the Iranian axis.”

“The Shiite duo understands the importance of the finance ministry to their interests, using it to oppose government projects that threaten their influence, or for the minister to channel funds into their private institutions.”

“After Hezbollah’s war on Lebanon and its significant destruction, any return of the Shiite duo to a ministry would send a message to Washington that Lebanon hasn’t changed, and its allegiance to the Resistance Axis remains intact,” Ghaddar added.

Moreover, Ghaddar warned of the risk of the U.S. halting aid to Lebanon, which could lead to the country’s economic collapse if the Shiite duo insists on nominating the finance minister.

Sources in Lebanon have reported that several political blocs have threatened to take to the streets if the Shiite duo is allowed to appoint the finance minister in Salam’s government.

Allowing Hezbollah or “Amal Movement” to nominate the finance minister would severely hinder Lebanon's chances of securing foreign funds to help cover the massive reconstruction costs incurred following the war with “Israel,” which devastated large parts of the country.

In this regard, the U.S. has made it clear that it has no objection to a Shiite holding the position, but it does not wish to see “Amal” or Hezbollah directly appointing the minister.

Washington has conveyed a message to Salam stating that Lebanon is entering a new phase, and it is unacceptable for Hezbollah and its allies to retain "the same privileges" they once had, including “obtaining sensitive ministries such as finance.”

The finance ministry holds a crucial role in determining public spending in Lebanon, a country whose financial system collapsed catastrophically in 2019 under the weight of massive debt accumulated by the ruling class’s excessive spending.

External Warnings

According to al-Jumhuriya newspaper, sources have highlighted two major obstacles, "First, keeping the finance ministry under the control of the Shiite duo could lead to the government’s collapse at any moment, whether in the first or tenth session, whenever a decision contradicts the duo’s positions."

Second, "If the duo insists on having five Shiite ministers, they could use this leverage to impose conditions and threaten the government, potentially paralyzing its functions during any crucial decision. Therefore, the solution lies in reducing this representation to prevent it from being used as a tool of obstruction, and ensuring that the finance ministry is not monopolized."

As negotiations continue to stall between multiple factions in Lebanon over the formation of a new government, all eyes are now on the results of Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan’s visit to Beirut in the first week of February 2025. Political sources are hopeful that this visit will accelerate the government formation process.

MP Ghiath Michel Yazbek, a member of the Lebanese Forces bloc (an opponent of Hezbollah), pointed out that Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan’s upcoming visit to Lebanon will likely include a message to Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam similar to the warning issued by U.S. advisor Boulos.

In an interview with al-Jadeed TV, Yazbek stated that "President Aoun and Salam must finalize their ministerial lineup and let anyone who wants to sabotage it, do so," referring to the Shiite duo’s interference.

Within this context, Lebanese political analyst Fares Khachan argued that "the Shiite duo insists on imposing its previous conditions on the new government, particularly by demanding a single name for the finance minister instead of presenting several options."

"The current impasse in Lebanon is that the Shiite duo will not agree to a government unless it includes ministers loyal to them. Otherwise, Lebanon will face continuous internal conflict."

"The Lebanese government may be delayed due to the Shiite duo’s obstruction, unless President Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Salam decide to push the government through despite everyone, which would expose the political elite trying to impede Lebanon’s efforts to regain international trust and rebuild the country," Khachan concluded.