BEIRUT, Lebanon — A day after the formation of Lebanon's new cabinet, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah addressed his disconcerted popular base and allies, who reacted negatively to the new governmental lineup and expressly to the appointment of former Lebanese internal security chief Ashraf Rifi as justice minister.
The dismay was voiced by supporters on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and by politicians on TV stations. One strong ally, Maj. Gen. Jamil el-Sayyed — an outspoken politician who is a former chief of Lebanon's general security — declared his withdrawal from the Hezbollah-backed March 8 alliance and said he will stop coordinating with the bloc, accusing both Hezbollah and the Amal movement of ignoring their base by accepting such names in the cabinet.