BEIRUT: Prime Minister Saad Hariri Sunday formed a 30-member national accord government, announcing the Cabinet’s main task would be formulating a new electoral law, overseeing parliamentary polls and preserving Lebanon’s security.

“This government, that is a government of national accord as I said the day I accepted to form it, will immediately address the issues that can be treated during the few months it will last, especially the crises facing the citizens like the waste, electricity and water problems,” Hariri said during a news conference announcing the Cabinet.

“In politics, the first task of this government will be, in cooperation with Parliament, to reach a new electoral law that takes into account proportional representation and proper representation, to organize parliamentary elections on time in the middle of next year. In this sense, this government can be considered an elections government,” he added.

“The new government also puts among its top priorities to maintain the security and stability enjoyed by Lebanon despite the fires around it, and isolate our country from the negative fallout of the Syrian crisis, in addition to making the international community assume its full responsibility in helping our country bear the burdens of the displacement of our Syrian brothers fleeing the brutality that Aleppo stands witness to today.”

Cabinet Secretary-General Fouad Flayfel announced the formation decrees and revealed the lineup for the new Cabinet. The move activated all of Lebanon’s executive bodies, following more than two years of paralysis. Hariri was appointed on Nov. 3, following the Oct. 31 election of President Michel Aoun. He succeeds former Prime Minister Tammam Salam, whose tenure saw the garbage crisis, grievances over power sharing and an increase in the prime minister’s prerogatives in the absence of a head of state following the end of former President Michel Sleiman’s tenure in May 2014.Since his appointment, Hariri’s efforts to form a Cabinet were stalled by the overlapping demands of rival political powers regarding key portfolios.

Hariri headed to the Baabda Palace Sunday evening to meet with Aoun, where they were later joined by Speaker Nabih Berri. Berri and Aoun had been at odds over the Marada Movement’s role in the new government, while the Lebanese Forces party insisted it retain a “sovereign ministry.”

While the Cabinet was initially slated to field 24 ministers, further discussions drove decision-makers to expand the body to 30 members so it could include all major powers. Despite this, the Kataeb Party opted out of the government after it was only offered a position of minister of state.

With the bulk of the negotiations over the past several days taking place behind closed doors, the formation came as a surprise. This meant that the news only broke shortly before the formal process began.

The Marada Movement was eventually allotted the Public Works and Transportation Ministry, where it will be represented by Youssef Fenianos. Meanwhile, the LF was allotted three ministries in addition to one minister of state.

The so-called sovereign ministries, apart from the Defense Ministry, will remain under the tutelage of their respective former ministers. Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil will all keep their respective portfolios.

Former Beirut Governor Yaqoub Sarraf will replace Samir Moqbel as defense minister. When Sarraf’s name was proposed for defense minister, critics had warned it would further hamper the process of Cabinet formation. Sarraf, a Greek Orthodox, served as a minister during former President Emile Lahoud’s term. He is considered to be close to Hezbollah despite being a member of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement.

“The composition of the government should not set precedents or consecrate practices. Every political party made concessions so we reach a national accord government,” Hariri said.

Five new ministerial posts were established for the expanded Cabinet: minister of state for refugee affairs, minister of state for combating corruption, minister of state for presidency affairs, minister of state for women’s affairs and minister of state for human rights.

The Cabinet will be convening for the first time Wednesday whereupon a group photo will be taken.

The International Support Group for Lebanon – a group of countries and international bodies that coordinate support for Lebanon following the start of the Syrian crisis – issued a statement Sunday welcoming the formation of the Cabinet. “The members of the ISG hope that the positive momentum created with the election of a president and the formation of a government can be maintained and capitalized on. This is a much-needed opportunity for the Lebanese leadership to reactivate state institutions and fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the Lebanese people by addressing the urgent challenges Lebanon faces,” group’s statement read. The ISG also stressed the “importance” of holding parliamentary elections on time.

The Future Movement issued a statement instructing members not to celebrate in light of tragic events currently unfolding in the Syrian city of Aleppo. “The formation of the new Cabinet ... is joyous news that all Lebanese people have been waiting for,” the Future Movement’s statement read.

“Yet the calamity in Aleppo ... necessitates all supporters across the Lebanese areas refrain from any convening for celebration ... in solidarity with Aleppo and its people.”