Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government’s priorities for the year include political reform, state reconstruction, and safeguarding national security, in an interview with LBCI released on Thursday.
He added that all weapons must ultimately be under the state’s authority, linking the progress made to the formation of a new parliament and to his cabinet’s ability to continue reforms.
He also cited plans to channel a newly approved World Bank loan toward reconstruction and to advance electricity and banking fixes.
Salam said the trajectory of 2026 depends on two factors: the seating of a new parliament and his ability to sustain reform efforts. “If the opportunity for reform is still viable, I believe we can build on what we achieved last year,” he told LBCI. “We are seeking to rebuild the state.”
On Hezbollah’s arsenal, he stressed that arms must be subject to government decisions and serve all Lebanese. “The weapons should be at the disposal of all Lebanese, under a decision by the Lebanese government.”
“Contrary to rumors, no one intends to throw them into the sea or hand them over to Israel.”
Working to avoid war, secure Israeli withdrawl from region
Addressing Israel, Salam said Beirut is working to prevent escalation and to secure full Israeli withdrawal, asserting that Lebanon is not aligned with any regional axis. “We will not spare any effort to stop Israeli attacks,” he said.
He reiterated his commitment to holding parliamentary elections on schedule and said he would consider another term only if reform opportunities persist.
Salam said a 250 million dollar World Bank loan was approved last week to support rebuilding, with disbursements expected at the start of the year. He said he met the Council for Development and Reconstruction to coordinate projects.
On electricity, he blamed years of mismanagement and outlined plans for new power plants and distribution reforms, cautioning that the crisis cannot be solved in months.
On banking, he pledged that depositors with under 100,000 dollars would recover funds within four years, while larger accounts would receive bonds backed by banking assets. He framed the measures as part of restoring confidence and stabilizing the financial system. “I am not a chair chaser,” he added, saying his goal is institutional recovery rather than power.
“The first year was not easy, but we succeeded in many areas in putting the state back on the right track,” Salam said, urging patience as reforms take hold.