Hezbollah leader delivers Martyr’s Day speech amidst growing parliamentary opposition

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will deliver a speech today, marking Hezbollah’s Martyr Day and calling for a resolution to the latest governmental dispute.

More than six months have passed since Lebanon’s election which saw PM Saad Hariri retain his power and Hezbollah make political gains. A cabinet has yet to be appointed, however, as parties remain in deadlock over the appointment of one of Hezbollah’s Sunni allies. Doing so would tip the organisation’s control to a third of cabinet—enough to block any major policy decision.

Such a result would have major implications on the region. With effectively veto power on the budget and warfare, Hezbollah would gain a major bargaining chip in negotiations—potentially giving the group more leeway against Syria. This, alongside its main supporter Iran’s rise in power over recent weeks, demonstrates key security risks to Israel and the United States.

With President Aoun backing Mr Hariri nothing is guaranteed. Indeed, given the implications expect significant pushback to appointing this Sunni official. As the country facing growing internal demand for governance, however, a swift resolution his appointment may become more favourable in the coming weeks.

Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.