The square of the Council of Europe, permanent headquarters of the Venice Commission in Strasbourg. (Credit : Patrick Hertzog/AFP)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Justice, Henri Khoury, and members of Parliament's Administration and Justice Committee kicked off a European tour with a trip to Italy, where they met with the European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the Venice Commission, to discuss a proposed Lebanese law that would make the justice system in Lebanon more independent from the government.
According to the press release relayed by the National News Agency, the discussions were focused on the reforms related to the administrative justice system, and the content of these discussions is due to be published on the Venice Commission website.
An advisory body to the Council of Europe on constitutional issues, this Commission has a permanent secretariat in Strasbourg but holds its plenary sessions four times a year (in March, June, October, and December) at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista.
The proposed law for strengthening the justice system's independence is one the long-term reforms requested — and expected — by the International Monetary Fund. Lebanon will have to adopt and implement the law if it hopes to obtain financial support, meant to help the country recover from the economic crisis under which it has been suffering since 2019.