Amid power cuts, Lebanon’s new government pledges to begin process of recovery after parliamentary vote

Najib Mikati, the new prime minister, pledged to get to work immediately to halt the collapse and ease the day-to-day suffering of the Lebanese, starting with a loan from the IMF, writes Bel Trew in Beirut

Najib Mikati (left) speaks at the Unesco Palace in Beirut on 20 September. The session, to approve the new cabinet, was interrupted by a power outage (EPA)

Breaking a year of political deadlock, Lebanon’s long-awaited cabinet is set to begin the impossible task of tackling the country’s unprecedented economic collapse after the body was approved by parliament in a session marred by power cuts and broken generators.

Monday’s meeting was already delayed by an hour because of power outages: Lebanese journalists shared footage of what appeared to be a diesel truck pulling up to refuel the generator to keep the session going.

Lebanon’s prime minister Najib Mikati, a billionaire tycoon,  then struggled to read out the new policy programme as he was interrupted by the speaker Nabih Berri, who asked him to skip over some parts as he was not sure how long the electricity would remain on.