As 2025 draws to a close, the Lebanese government is nearing ten months since it secured a vote of confidence from Parliament. During this period, ministers have begun tackling a wide array of files accumulated over years of political paralysis and institutional vacuum. Among all ministries, however, the Ministry of Justice has emerged as one of the most heavily burdened, given the complexity and sensitivity of the issues under its mandate.

The Ministry of Justice at the center of accumulated crises
Justice Minister Adel Nassar finds himself confronting an exceptionally demanding agenda. At the forefront is the long-awaited judicial appointments file, alongside efforts to lift the political and judicial “veto” surrounding the release of Hannibal Gaddafi, accused in the case of the kidnapping of Imam Musa al-Sadr and his two companions in Libya.

Equally pressing is the push to reactivate the investigation into the Beirut Port explosion - arguably one of the most fraught and controversial cases in Lebanon’s judicial history. The ministry is also working to pass legislation aimed at reorganizing and reforming the judiciary to strengthen judicial independence, while seeking a legal solution to the issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, whose continued detention places a growing strain on an already overstretched penal system.

Paradoxically, these judicial files can no longer be viewed as purely domestic matters. They are subject to scrutiny by foreign and Arab states alike, as they are increasingly regarded as key benchmarks for broader economic, financial, and political reforms.

A law aimed at strengthening judicial independence
In an interview with Annahar, Justice Minister Adel Nassar stresses the importance of the Judicial Organization Law, which was approved days ago during a general parliamentary session. “Since assuming my duties as minister, one of my commitments was to pass this law and work seriously on it,” he says. “This was achieved following swift amendments introduced by the Administration and Justice Committee after the remarks submitted by the President of the Republic - remarks that I supported in the draft law.”

Explaining the key changes introduced by the legislation, Nassar notes: “Members of the Higher Judicial Council, who were previously mostly appointed by the Cabinet upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice, are now largely elected by judges themselves. This reduces the government’s influence over the council’s composition and significantly reinforces judicial independence. Moreover, judicial appointments no longer require the approval of the Minister of Justice, but are instead based on the configurations approved by the Council, provided they receive a majority of seven out of ten votes.”

According to Nassar, the reforms extend beyond these measures. The law further bolsters judicial independence and immunity by preventing the executive authority - or any other party - from transferring judges from their posts for a specified period. It also expands the role of the Judicial Institute, which will no longer be limited to training new judges, but will also provide continuous academic education for sitting judges and establish a judicial research center within the institute.

The Beirut Port explosion investigation and the limits of timing
Addressing the investigation into the Beirut Port explosion and the anticipated issuance of an indictment - an issue of profound concern to all Lebanese, particularly the victims’ families - Nassar emphasizes that “judicial timelines do not align with media deadlines or public opinion pressures. The investigative judge must complete a comprehensive file that fully uncovers the truth, after which the case can proceed to trial.”


He adds that “The investigation is advancing with an unprecedented level of momentum. For the first time in Lebanon’s history, an investigative judge has traveled outside Lebanese territory to question one of the suspects. The Ministry of Justice is providing all possible support within its legal authority to facilitate access to every piece of information relevant to this case.”

Drawing a comparison with recent developments in the case of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Nassar notes that Sarkozy was prosecuted 18 years after the commission of the alleged crime. “Any decision in the port explosion case depends entirely on the investigative judge’s assessment and the completion of his inquiries,” he says. “This process must be respected, despite our full understanding of the humanitarian and emotional anguish endured by the Lebanese people and the victims’ families since the tragedy.”

The Syrian detainees file between law, sovereignty, and diplomacy
Responding to reports alleging obstruction of any resolution to the file of Syrian detainees in Lebanon, Nassar dismisses such claims outright. “Everything published in this regard is inaccurate and does not reflect reality,” he says. “I am fully committed to the government’s policy of doing everything necessary to improve relations with the Syrian side, while safeguarding the sovereignty of both countries.”

He concludes by stressing that “addressing this file requires adherence to legal and constitutional frameworks that cannot be bypassed. I do not believe that anyone in this country seeks otherwise.”