Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar. (Credit: National News Agency)
While rumors about Justice Minister Adel Nassar's possible resignation have circulated abundantly in the local press these last few days, he publicly ruled out this hypothesis during a press conference held at his Ministry on Wednesday, June 11. This is in the context of a behind-the-scenes standoff with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over the appointment of the new financial public prosecutor. While Berri relies on the confessional distribution logic, which reserves this position for a Shiite person, to push for the candidacy of one of his close associates, Judge Zaher Hamadeh, Nassar refuses.
"How would Zaher Hamadeh be appointed if I do not propose him? I will only propose based on my convictions," continued the minister. "My duty is to keep justice away from politics. I leave the fictitious exploits and political exploitation to others," he added. "My conviction is based on the rules of appointment: I consult the greatest jurists, I meet the judges and I choose the one who seems to me most competent," he concluded.
The financial public prosecutor is appointed by Parliament on the proposal of the Justice Minister, but the nomination remains subject to the approval of the Parliament speaker, given the current confessional distribution. "Appointments must be made based on independence and competence, devoid of any political consideration. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri upholds institutions. He is a man from the judiciary. Today, appointments are not made based on post-sharing," declared Nassar.
No 'political exploitation'
Moreover, the minister insisted on the independence of the judiciary. He said he is "against any politicization or political exploitation of a judicial case." He specified he "did not interfere in investigations" and celebrated the "law regarding the independence of the judiciary and appointments," approved by Parliament on May 2. "There is now a form of regularity in judicial functioning, notably in investigations related to the port explosion and political assassinations, including that of Lokman Slim," he affirmed.
Investigating Judge Tarek Bitar, in charge of the inquiry into the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion, resumed his investigations at the beginning of 2025 and has already questioned several former officials, including ex-Prime Minister Hassan Diab and former Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouk. The investigation into the assassination of Shiite intellectual and fierce Hezbollah opponent, Lokman Slim, resumed at the end of May after a nearly five-month suspension.
'Weapons outside the state are unacceptable'
Nassar, considered close to the Kataeb party, also insisted on the disarmament of Hezbollah. "Weapons outside the Lebanese state are unacceptable. It is a fundamental element in state-building," he argued. The previous day, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had stated that authorities had dismantled more than 500 military positions and arms depots south of the Litani River, while the United States and Israel are pressing for Hezbollah's disarmament over the entire Lebanese territory.
Nassar further indicated that "judicial inspection is very active, performing its work seriously, and the results will appear over time," and announced a relaunch of the Judicial Training Institute's activity, with French technical support, a fundamental pillar in preparing future judges.
Finally, addressing the confrontations between the inhabitants of southern Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Nassar explained he "requested the public prosecutor near the Court of Cassation to prosecute the authors of attacks against UNIFIL."
