Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (left), handing over his declaration of assets to Judge Claude Karam, Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, on Feb.25, 2025. (Credit: X/@lebanesepresidency)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun personally filed his declaration of assets and interests on Tuesday morning with the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Judge Claude Karam, president of this commission, received the document.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission was established by Law No. 175 on May 8, 2020, but it was only formed at the end of January 2022.
The registration of wealth and asset declarations from officials and public agents is one of the responsibilities of this commission. The law requires that any person holding a public office ranging from the 4th category up to the position of President must file their declaration shortly after taking office. If this is not done, they are considered resigned, among other legal consequences. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Information Minister Paul Morcos have already complied with this obligation.
Later in the day, when receiving a delegation from the "Lebanese International Business Council" (LIBC), Aoun emphasized that "fighting the culture of corruption requires everyone's efforts, including Lebanese expatriates." He further highlighted that "the diaspora is not merely an added value for Lebanon, it is a multiplied value; without it, Lebanon could not have survived."
Restoring trust
The President reiterated these remarks in front of the Executive President of the Kuwait Financial Center and President of the Lebanese Business Council, Ali Hassan Khalil, who was later received at the Baabda Palace. “Lebanon is determined to restore trust with the Arab world, the Lebanese diaspora and all countries around the world,” he reaffirmed, considering that the "recovery of Lebanon is a shared responsibility." He specified that his "work program is not a political program, but a program of state building, reform and fighting corruption," adding that "justice and security will be at the heart of [his] concerns and actions to allow Lebanon to take a new step."
The discussion also covered the Lebanese community in Kuwait, which comprises around 42,000 members, reports the National News Agency.
President Aoun later received Lebanon's ambassador to Germany and acting head of the Lebanese mission to UNESCO, Moustapha Adib, with whom he discussed Lebanese-German relations, the situation of the Lebanese community in Germany, as well as UNESCO's recent decision to protect Lebanon's heritage, archaeological and cultural sites, according to the agency.
