LBCI

Foreign Minister Hitti quits over lack of "will to reform"

News Bulletin Reports

03-08-2020 | 07:04

Share

Share

Foreign Minister Hitti quits over lack of "will to reform"

LBCI

Watch now

More details about online video viewing packages

3^min

Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned on Monday over what he described as lack of political will to reform as his nation wrestles with a financial crisis posing the biggest threat to stability since a 1975-1990 civil war.

Foreign donors have made it clear there will be no aid until Beirut enacts long-stalled reforms to tackle state waste and corruption, root causes of the collapse. Talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been put on hold amid a row over the scale of financial losses.

"Given the absence of an effective will to achieve structural, comprehensive reform which our society and the international community have urged us to do, I have decided to resign," Hitti said in a statement.

"I took part in this government to work for one boss called Lebanon, then I found in my country multiple bosses and contradicting interests," he said. "If they do not come together in the interest of rescuing the Lebanese people, God forbid, the ship will sink with everyone on it."

Hitti, a former Lebanese ambassador to the Arab League, was named foreign minister in January when Prime Minister Hassan Diab took office with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its allies.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Hassan Diab met with Hitti and accepted his resignation. The prime minister kicked off immediately contacts to appoint a new foreign minister.

Diab then headed to the Baabda Presidential Palace where he met with President Michel Aoun and discussed with him Hitti’s resignation.

This as sources told LBCI that Hitti voiced to Diab his objections about the government’s performance and its failure in achieving any progress, mainly in the required reforms.

The same sources added that the appointment of a new minister of foreign affairs will be within hours, noting that the most likely name for the position is Charbel Wehbe.

LBCI/REUTERS

To watch the full report, please click on the video above.

Breaking Headlines

Lebanon News

News Bulletin Reports

Lebanon

Foreign Ministry

resignation

Cabinet

Government

Next

From South Lebanon to Bekaa: Israel’s plan to reconfigure border security

Recommended For You

Expatriate voting plan ignites tensions in Lebanon’s cabinet and parliament — the details

News Bulletin Reports

14:00

Expatriate voting plan ignites tensions in Lebanon’s cabinet and parliament — the details

War-torn Wazzani works to bring water—and life—back to Lebanon's south

News Bulletin Reports

13:59

War-torn Wazzani works to bring water—and life—back to Lebanon's south

Ceasefire breaches: Israel reviews Lebanon strategy amid concerns over Hezbollah and Lebanese Army

News Bulletin Reports

13:49

Ceasefire breaches: Israel reviews Lebanon strategy amid concerns over Hezbollah and Lebanese Army

Israel’s rising assaults — from Blida to Odaisseh: What comes next for Lebanon’s fragile calm?

News Bulletin Reports

2025-10-30

Israel’s rising assaults — from Blida to Odaisseh: What comes next for Lebanon’s fragile calm?

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Casino du Liban chief Roland Khoury released on financial bail

2025-09-29

Casino du Liban chief Roland Khoury released on financial bail

US offers $10 million reward for information on Hezbollah financial networks

2025-09-22

US offers $10 million reward for information on Hezbollah financial networks

War-torn Wazzani works to bring water—and life—back to Lebanon's south

News Bulletin Reports

13:59

War-torn Wazzani works to bring water—and life—back to Lebanon's south

Hezbollah’s Qassem urges unity, calls for army support against Israeli aggression

10:25

Hezbollah’s Qassem urges unity, calls for army support against Israeli aggression

Videos

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

2025-10-04

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

2025-10-03

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

2025-09-07

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Ceasefire breaches: Israel reviews Lebanon strategy amid concerns over Hezbollah and Lebanese Army

1

Ceasefire breaches: Israel reviews Lebanon strategy amid concerns over Hezbollah and Lebanese Army

Hezbollah’s Qassem urges unity, calls for army support against Israeli aggression

2

Hezbollah’s Qassem urges unity, calls for army support against Israeli aggression

Drone strike hits industrial city in Nabatieh

3

Drone strike hits industrial city in Nabatieh

Expatriate voting plan ignites tensions in Lebanon’s cabinet and parliament — the details

4

Expatriate voting plan ignites tensions in Lebanon’s cabinet and parliament — the details

Sources to LBCI: President Aoun urged army to respond to Israeli violations, calls for activation of monitoring committee

5

Sources to LBCI: President Aoun urged army to respond to Israeli violations, calls for activation of monitoring committee

War-torn Wazzani works to bring water—and life—back to Lebanon's south

6

War-torn Wazzani works to bring water—and life—back to Lebanon's south

UN Security Council backs Morocco's plan for W. Sahara autonomy

7

UN Security Council backs Morocco's plan for W. Sahara autonomy

Former Minister Ghazi Aridi criticizes Hezbollah, calls for a unified defense strategy

8

Former Minister Ghazi Aridi criticizes Hezbollah, calls for a unified defense strategy

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More