Like several other Middle Eastern countries, Lebanon had its own "Day of Anger" this week after Lebanese President Michel Suleiman officially named Hezbollah's candidate Najib Mikati as the new Prime Minister. Mikati received the required parliamentary votes after a campaign of threats by Hezbollah and Syria succeeded in coercing Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt's MPs into reversing alliances. This unleashed waves of protests by supporters of outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who labeled Hezbollah's latest move a political coup d'etat.

Hezbollah's takeover is part of its ongoing efforts to discredit the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which is expected to accuse certain party members of the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. Hezbollah wants to end all cooperation between Lebanese authorities and the court. Despite a harsh campaign and Hezbollah's labeling of the STL as an "American-Israeli conspiracy," the outgoing PM refused to denounce it.

As such, PM designate Mikati's primary task will be to end all relations between the Lebanese government and the STL. Mikati, perhaps out of a desire to maintain a minimum level of credibility among his Sunni community, or in order to portray himself as a "moderate" figure independent of Hezbollah, has repeatedly said that he will not make any move against the STL without a Lebanese consensus. However, many observers in Lebanon suspect that he will not be able to defy the group that brought him to power. His new cabinet will inevitably adopt Hezbollah-backed policies, allowing the group to dictate the country's foreign policy while refusing to discuss its arms.

Lebanon's international allies have been relatively mute about the latest developments. Saudi Arabia remained silent, causing some to interpret this as a tacit acceptance of Hariri's exit. And while France's effort to set up a "contact group on Lebanon" continues to be rebuffed by Syria, it also appears willing to work with Mikati's incoming government on the condition it maintains support for the STL.   

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice spoke of the coercion used to bring about a change in the prime ministerial post, but other American officials seemed ready to accept the new outcome. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that a Hezbollah-dominated government will impact those ties but added that the U.S. will judge the new government according to its actions. Mikati, on the other hand, assured U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly that he is keen on strong ties between Beirut and Washington.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Assad is welcoming U.S. ambassador Robert Ford and British Foreign Minister William Hague in Damascus to discuss Lebanon, among other regional matters. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem is "encouraging" the Lebanese to join the new Mikati government. For the first time in many years, this a Lebanese government that may again be deserving of the title "Made in Damascus."