By Dana Halawi
BEIRUT, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Some Lebanese analysts are concerned about the new cabinet's capacity to overcome the country's economic and financial crises.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced on Tuesday the formation of a new cabinet of 20 ministers. The prime minister promised that the new cabinet will exert all its efforts to save Lebanon.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets following the announcement. Demonstrators accused that the appointed ministers were chosen by political parties.
Diab defended his cabinet by saying that the appointed are professionals with great expertise. He added that the political parties may have named some ministers but they all meet the right criteria.
"This cabinet does not have the freedom to make independent decisions because it was appointed by political parties even if the ministers are professionals and experts," political analyst from the Lebanese University Youssef Diab told Xinhua.
Diab said the appointment contradicts to the requests of the Lebanese people and the international community for a completely independent government.
"Why should we expect the new ministers to be able to make serious reforms if the political parties themselves have failed on it?" said Hilal Kashan, chair of the Political Studies Department at the American University of Beirut.
Sami Nader, director of Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs in Lebanon, said, "Protesters are not convinced by the way this cabinet has been formed."
However, he suggested the people to give this government a chance "in all cases because it is better than the previous one."
"We cannot judge now, they may surprise us," he said.
Salem Zahran, political analyst and director of Media Focal Center, believes that the new government can succeed based on a few conditions including gaining support from the international community and the people, and working with a proper strategy capable of saving the economy.
Zahran said the international community does not really care if the government is technocrat or political but it focuses mainly on the cabinet's program and plans.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the formation of a new Lebanese government. The secretary-general looks forward to working with Hassan Diab and his incoming cabinet, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
