On January 21, 2020, as a result of massive and months-long anti-government protests, Lebanese officials announced the formation of a new cabinet and transitional government. At the time, this radical move was seen as “critical to getting the country on track to” recover from severe economic and political crisis. Unfortunately for the struggling nation, the new system and cabinet was attacked from all sides and was short lived, throwing the country back into mayhem and worsening the day-to-day existence for most Lebanese.

The cabinet assembled in January was touted as the most progressive and diverse in the Country's history. Led by non-partisan Prime Minister Hassan Diab, the cabinet contained a number of newcomers to politics and the highest number of women in Lebanon's history.


https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/24/middleeast/lebanon-100-days-new-government-intl/index.html


The newly-formed government was quickly attacked on all sides. Protesters continued their protests claiming the new cabinet was "simply another set of politically connected figures beholden to the parties and institutions" protesters had been trying to expel. Externally, many nations, including the United States expressed concern regarding the pro-Iran tilt of the new regime, as Islamic Militant group Hezbollah had significant input in the cabinet's selection. One protester, expressing ongoing discontent noted, "This government is all theater. There's no way we're going to give it a chance or our trust. We're going to keep rioting until our demands are met."

True to their word, the protests continued as the new government struggled to gain its footing. The system came crashing down following a devastating explosion on August 4, 2020 in Lebanon's capital city, Beirut. The blast, which was a result of the detonation of 2000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored illegally in a port warehouse, killed at least 63 people, injured more than 6,000 and caused massive and widespread destruction.





https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/04/middleeast/gallery/beirut-explosion/index.


For the average Lebanese citizen, the explosion was the last straw in the long-term crisis including the "collapse of the economy, corruption, waste and dysfunctional governance." Protests ramped up in the days following the explosion culminating in the resignation of the Prime Minister and the resignation of cabinet members, leaving Lebanon once again without a functioning government. In an attempt to quickly quell the chaos, the Lebanese parliament quickly installed career-diplomat Mustafa Adib as its new prime minister. Mr. Adib lasted approximately one month before he too resigned in late September after failing to form a cabinet. Now, Lebanon remains at a crossroads, with Western nations, led by France, threatening to withdraw further assistance unless the Lebanese can form a cohesive, functional government whose primary goal would be to resume financial bailout talks with the international community and create a "roadmap for reform." Unfortunately, it has become increasingly apparent to the international community that Lebanese state is in the total control of Hezbollah, making real reform and cooperation with the West unlikely.


Sources:


https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/24/middleeast/lebanon-100-days-new-government-intl/index.
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-10/lebanons-cabinet-under-pressure-as-ministers-quit-and-anger-grows-over-beirut-blast
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/31/world/middleeast/lebanon-prime-minister-mustafa-adib.html
https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/29109/without-defanging-hezbollah-lebanon-can-have-little-hope-for-the-future