As part of its advocacy efforts towards building a people-centered and sustainable recovery from the Beirut port explosion and its endeavors to promote inclusive and equitable social justice, as well as foster trust between individuals, entities, and the Lebanese government, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) partnered with Transparency International (TI) and its local chapter, Transparency International Lebanon – No Corruption, to issue “The Reform Monitor.” The topics covered by the monitor are linked to the areas of reform, recovery, and reconstruction (3RF). The monitor falls within the Building Integrity and National Accountability in Lebanon (BINA’) project, which is funded by the European Union. At the end of December 2022, the overall framework was reviewed for evaluation and adaptation purposes based on the closeout of the first phase, with foreseen updates underway. The views expressed in the monitor do not necessarily reflect those of the donor.Reform MonitorLinkExplaining the 3RF in the Wake of the Beirut Blasthttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4774/explaining-the-3rf-in-the-wake-of-the-beirut-blastThe National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and Curbing Rampant Corruption in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4793/the-national-anti-corruption-commission-(nacc)-and-curbing-rampant-corruption-in-lebanonThe Implementation of the 2020 Law on Illicit Enrichment: Challenges and Opportunitieshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4815/the-implementation-of-the-2020-law-on-illicit-enrichment-challenges-and-opportunitiesAccess to Information in Lebanon: The Law and Its Implementationhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4833/access-to-information-in-lebanon-the-law-and-its-implementationRegulating the Energy Transition: Lebanon’s New Law on Distributed Renewable Energyhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4853/monitor-%7C-regulating-the-energy-transition-lebanon%E2%80%99s-new-law-on-distributed-renewable-energyThe National Human Rights Commission: Prospects and Challengeshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4873/monitor-%7C-the-national-human-rights-commission-prospects-and-challengesProtecting Beirut’s Heritage Buildingshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4877/reform-monitor-%7C-protecting-beirut%E2%80%99s-heritage-buildingsStatus Review of Disability Rights in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4879/reform-monitor-%7C-status-review-of-disability-rights-in-lebanonLebanon’s Price Subsidies Systemhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4882/lebanon%E2%80%99s-price-subsidies-systemSyrian Refugees in Lebanon: Legal Challenges for Municipalitieshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4884/monitor-%7C-syrian-refugees-in-lebanon-legal-challenges-for-municipalitiesReforming Municipal Elections in Lebanon: Pathways to Democratic Local Governancehttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4888/reforming-municipal-elections-in-lebanon-pathways-to-democratic-local-governanceEducation in Times of Emergency in Lebanon: Improvised Solutions and Missed Opportunitieshttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4896/education-in-times-of-emergency-in-lebanon-improvised-solutions-and-missed-opportunitiesAssessing the Compliance of Lebanese Ministries with the Access to Information Lawhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4890/monitor-%7C-assessing-the-compliance-of-lebanese-ministries-with-the-access-to-information-lawManagement of Construction Demolition Waste in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4905/management-of-construction-demolition-waste-in-lebanonStrengthening Protections: An Analysis of Violence Against Women Legislation in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4914/strengthening-protections-an-analysis-of-violence-against-women-legislation-in-lebanonGovernance of Aid in Times of Crisishttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4938/governance-of-aid-in-times-of-crisisStrengthening Whistleblower Protection: A Key to Accountability in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4942/strengthening-whistleblower-protection-a-key-to-accountability-in-lebanonVoices Under Siege: Monitoring Freedom of Speech in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4968/voices-under-siege-monitoring-freedom-of-speech-in-lebanonLiving with Inequality: An Overview of LGBTQIA+ Rights in Lebanonhttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4973/living-with-inequality-an-overview-of-lgbtqia--rights-in-lebanonLebanon’s Rental Law and the Housing Crisishttps://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4977/lebanon%E2%80%99s-rental-law-and-the-housing-crisisAdministrative Decentralization in Lebanon: Opportunity for Reform or Risk of Fragmentation?https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/en/articles/details/4981/administrative-decentralization-in-lebanon-opportunity-for-reform-or-risk-of-fragmentation read more

Public Procurement Reform Tracker[1] Reform Area: Public Procurement Last Updated: November 2025 Citizen Impact Summary Dimension Snapshot Source Who Is Affected? All ministries, municipalities, public institutions, SOEs, citizens, and private suppliers dependent on fair, efficient public spending and infrastructure recovery. Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report Financial Burden? 78% funding gap for national strategy; implementation suffers from delayed decrees, weak staffing, and currency devaluation impacting bid pricing and procurement planning. Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Public Services? Municipal and sectoral procurements stalled or conducted outside legal frameworks due to lack of tools, standard documents, and functioning e-platform. Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Mental‑Health Toll? Chronic uncertainty in public tenders, lack of grievance redress, and elite interference contribute to reform fatigue and institutional demoralization. World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024; Technical Note on the Amendments brought to Law 244/2021; Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Overview & Objectives Goal Establish a transparent, competitive, and accountable procurement system aligned with international standards. Strategic Importance Public procurement is a foundational anti-corruption and fiscal reform, highlighted in CEDRE, IMF SLA (2022), and the 3RF recovery framework. Key Reform Priorities 1. Finalize secondary legislation (internal, financial, staffing decrees for PPA & CA). 2. Operationalize PPA and establish Complaints Authority. 3. Publish Standard Procurement Documents and guidelines. 4. Launch full national e-procurement system. 5. Institutionalize certified procurement cadres across public entities. Reform Actions & Status Specific Reform Actions & Accountability Reform Action Required Current Status Lead Authority Implementing Body Oversight / Supporting Actors Primary Source Establish Public Procurement Authority (PPA) President appointed; 4 board members still pending. PPA operating with only 8 staff (5 auditors) despite legal mandate of 83. Internal and financial regulations remained unapproved for 2.5 years, limiting institutional activation. PPA president confirmed that progress is constrained by HR shortages and delayed appointments. Council of Ministers Ministry of Finance / IoF Parliament, Donor Coordination Group Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025; NNA, 12 June 2025 Create Complaints Authority (CA) Not yet established. Legal and institutional framework pending; board formation stalled. Lack of CA undermines grievance mechanisms and erodes public trust. Council of Ministers To be determined PPA, Ministry of Finance Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Launch e-Procurement Platform Portal is actively used to publish tenders, awards, and annual plans across entities, including new notices dated Nov 2025, yet end-to-end e-tendering and centralized supplier registration remain pending. PPA PPA WB, IoF, EU/OECD SIGMA Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025; NNA, 12 June 2025; PPA 2025 Adopt Decrees on PPA Internal & Financial Regulations Adopted in Dec 2024 after 2.5 years of delay. Decrees had been submitted by PPA in July 2022 and remained pending in CoM. Council of Ministers PPA Inter-ministerial Committee Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Appoint trained procurement officers in all entities Institutional framework developed but skills and staffing gaps persist across ministries, municipalities, and SOEs. Law-mandated procurement cadre remains incomplete. Ministry of Finance / PPA Procuring Entities IoF, UNDP, WB Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report Set up Technical Support Unit at PPA and CA Not yet operational. No dedicated staff assigned to technical support or capacity-building. Requires budget line and formal hiring. Ministry of Finance PPA / CA Donors Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Ensure BDL compliance with Law 244/2021 in advisory and services contracts PPA concluded the BDL–K2 Integrity contract was concluded through procedures that violate Law 244/2021: signed on 9 Jul 2025 by a non-competent authority while the Central Council lacked quorum, relied on a lapsed/unsuitable CoM Decision No. 3 of 2 Oct 2024, and fell outside the scope of emergency security/IT services; therefore subject to annulment before the Shura Council. PPA BDL Parliament, Court of Accounts, Central Inspection Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 Reform Roadmap Timeline & Critical Path Recent Milestone Recent Milestone Date What Happened Status on Critical Path Source PPA memo on announcement deadlines (Art. 12) Oct 29, 2025 PPA issued Memo No. 3/هـ.ش.ع./2025 clarifying tender announcement periods required by Law 244/2021. Supports uniform practice across procuring entities, reduces challenges. PPA 2025 PPA determines BDL–K2 contract violates Law 244/2021 September 2025 PPA, in a formal reply to a parliamentary question, found the K2 Integrity contract concluded in breach of Article 46 procedures, competence rules, and scope limits of CoM Decision No. 3/2024. Highlights enforcement needs and uniform application across entities, including BDL. Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 EDL HQ Rehabilitation Tender Suspended July 27, 2025 Court of Audit suspended tender 30 minutes before opening financial bids due to appeals by excluded companies; PPA and DPA reviewing legality and transparency Shows active application of Law 244/2021 oversight; delays infrastructure recovery Al-Modon, 2 August 2025 PPA presents progress to EU June 12, 2025 PPA shared reform updates with EU delegation; highlighted launch of new website and upcoming annual report Signals forward momentum in implementation NNA, 12 June 2025 Decrees for PPA and CA finalized Dec 2024 CoM approved PPA internal and financial regulation decrees after 2.5 years of delay since July 2022 Achieved Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Law 244/2021 enters into force July 2022 Public Procurement Law became legally binding Achieved Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Law 309/2023 (Amendments to Public Procurement Law) April 2023 Controversial amendments affecting procurement committees and eligibility; referred for constitutional review Achieved Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023   Next Steps – Transparency and Accountability Calendar Action Responsible Entity Target Date Source Regularize or rescind BDL–K2 contract: either run a competitive process under Law 244/2021 or obtain a specific, time-bound CoM authorization per Article 46(4) with explicit reasons and ex post publication. Banque du Liban / CoM / PPA - Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 PMO/PPA to issue a standardized template and guidance for Article 46 requests, including explicit justification, scope limits, and publication requirements, then circulate to all entities including BDL. PMO / PPA - Legal Agenda September 11, 2025; Daraj September 9, 2025 Resolve EDL HQ tender suspension & relaunch transparent process EDL / Court of Audit / PPA / DPA Aug 2025 (est.) Al-Modon, 2 August 2025 Issue first PPA annual report identifying procurement implementation gaps and reform needs PPA - NNA, 12 June 2025 Appoint 4 remaining PPA Board Members Council of Ministers - Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Recruit full PPA staffing (83 positions) to replace stopgap staffing of 8 employees (incl. 5 auditors) Civil Service Board / Council of Ministers - Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Establish Complaints Authority (CA) CSB / CoM - Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Finalize national e-procurement platform OMSAR / MoF / PPA - Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023; Nidaa Al Watan, 26 Feb 2025 Launch procurement profession competency IoF / CSB / PMO - Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report; Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Clarify and codify emergency procurement rules to prevent abuse of Article 46 exceptions and ensure ex post accountability. This includes formalizing thresholds, publishing post-crisis contracts, and defining “urgent need” criteria in alignment with Memo No. 8/2024. Parliament / MoF / PPA - Nidaa Al Watan, 22 Nov 2024; Memo 8/2024; Hura7.com, 28 Dec 2024 Enforce post-war audit of exceptional procurements conducted under Article 46(2) (emergency clause) to assess legality, necessity, and abuse Public Procurement Authority (PPA) / Court of Accounts / Central Inspection Upon cessation of hostilities Nidaa Al Watan, 22 Nov 2024 Issue remaining implementing decrees of the Public Procurement Law following political consultations between Speaker of Parliament and PPA President Parliament (Speaker’s Office) / Council of Ministers / PPA - LBCI News; March 2025 (Meeting between Speaker Berri and PPA President Jean Alia)   Implementation Bottlenecks & Required Actions Bottleneck Official Explanation Required Immediate Action Source Political interference in appointments Delayed formation of collegial PPA and CA weakens reform impact CoM to prioritize appointments via transparent, merit-based process Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Budget shortfalls Inadequate allocations in 2023 budget for PPA and CA operations Ensure 2025 budget includes full funding for both bodies Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 Technical capacity gaps Procurement officers lack adequate training and clarity on roles Launch national training and qualification scheme Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023   Stakeholders & Roles Entity Core Function Primary Contact Point Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Regulatory oversight of public procurement; develops standard templates and guidelines; manages capacity building and monitoring; provides guidance to procuring entities. President of the PPA (currently Judge Jean Alia) Complaints Authority (planned) Independent body for reviewing procurement complaints and appeals; ensures legal redress and fairness; not yet operational. To be appointed by Council of Ministers (under Article 78 of Law 244) Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan (IoF) Technical coordination of procurement reform; leads training programs, MAPS assessments, and capacity gap studies; advisor to Ministry of Finance. Director of IoF – Ministry of Finance Council of Ministers (CoM) Political and administrative authority for adopting decrees (e.g., on PPA, CA, financial rules); responsible for key appointments and funding allocations. General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) Technical lead for e-procurement system development (together with PPA); manages IT infrastructure and inter-operability aspects. Director General of OMSAR Ministry of Finance (MoF) Parent ministry for procurement reform policy; responsible for budgeting PPA and CA; coordinates donor support and public financial management (PFM) integration. Director General of Finance Civil Service Board (CSB) Oversees recruitment of procurement officers and validation of organizational structures; participates in approving procurement cadre framework. President of the Civil Service Board Donor Coordination Platform (EU, WB, UNDP, AFD, etc.) Provides financial and technical assistance; monitors implementation progress and alignment with international standards. Chaired by EU Delegation to Lebanon (rotating lead among partners) Procuring Entities (Ministries, Municipalities, SOEs) Responsible for planning, executing, and reporting on procurement activities in compliance with Law 244/2021. Procurement Focal Points / Directorate of Administrative Affairs Court of Accounts / Central Inspection Audits public spending including procurement; monitors compliance and flags violations. President of Court of Accounts / Head of Central Inspection   Legal & Policy Framework Instrument Status Key Provisions Implementation Note Law 244/2021 (Public Procurement Law) In force since July 2022 Applies to all public entities; e-platform; PPA & CA establishment Core reform pillar aligned with UNCITRAL and OECD guidelines Decree on PPA internal regulation Adopted (Dec 2024) Governance, structure, HR and internal processes Approved by Council of Ministers Decree on PPA financial regulation Adopted (Dec 2024) Budget and financial procedures Still pending full implementation with MoF coordination Amendments (Law 309/2023) Controversial Changes to bidder eligibility and committee appointment standards Constitutional appeal submitted; viewed as undermining original reform   Official Sources and Reference Materials   Instrument Source Ministerial Statement (25 Feb 2025) Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Public Procurement Reform Strategy 2022–2024 Public Procurement Reform Strategy 2022–2024 Paving the way for Sustainable Public Procurement in Lebanon Paving the way for Sustainable Public Procurement in Lebanon Technical Note on Amendments to Law 244/2021 Technical Note on the Amendments brought to Law 244/2021 Progress Report – Jan 2024 Public Procurement Reform In Lebanon Progress Note – For The Period May – December 2023 World Bank Summary Report on PPL Implementation – Dec 2024 Status of Implementation of Lebanon’s Public Procurement Law 244-2021 and Assessment of Skills’ Gaps and Training Needs : Summary Report     List of Acronyms – Public Procurement Reform Tracker Acronym Full Name PPA Public Procurement Authority CA Complaints Authority MoF Ministry of Finance IoF Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan CoM Council of Ministers OMSAR Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform CSB Civil Service Board SOEs State-Owned Enterprises WB World Bank EU European Union OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development SIGMA Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (joint EU–OECD initiative) UNDP United Nations Development Programme AFD Agence Française de Développement PMO Prime Minister’s Office MAPS Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law   [1] All reform data presented here is based on official Lebanese government sources, such as laws, decrees, strategies, and verified public data. Where possible, each update is linked to a document, gazette entry, or institutional publication. read more

Justice Reform Tracker[1] Reform Area: Judiciary Independence & Accountability Last Updated: November 2025 Citizen Impact Summary Dimension Snapshot Source Who Is Affected? Victims of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, depositors impacted by the 2019 financial meltdown, and all Lebanese residents denied timely legal recourse due to a paralyzed judiciary. With the August 2025 passage of the Judicial Independence Law and signing of the judicial formations decree, judges gained operational independence, partially restoring citizens’ hope for accountability. Vulnerable litigants, particularly women, low-income families, and political dissidents, remain most affected by prior delays. HRW 2025; Amnesty 2025; World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024; An‑Nahar 31 July 2025 Financial Burden? High: delays in accountability prolong corruption and undermine fiscal justice. World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024 Public Services? The judiciary's historic lack of independence hindered the delivery of justice and eroded public trust, but passage of the Judicial Independence Law and activation of judicial formations are expected to improve service delivery and enable high-profile trials. World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024; L’Orient-Le Jour 1 Aug 2025 Mental Health Toll? Prolonged delays in justice, especially concerning the Beirut port explosion, have contributed to societal trauma and a sense of impunity. Recent reforms may begin to alleviate this public despair if investigations proceed without obstruction. HRW 2025; Amnesty 2025; L’Orient-Le Jour April 2025 Overview & Objectives Goal Establish a fully independent, impartial, and effective judiciary that guarantees access to justice and upholds the rule of law. Strategic Importance Judicial reform is central to rebuilding public trust, unlocking international financial support (e.g., IMF), and ending impunity for major crimes including the Beirut Port explosion and financial corruption. The EU, World Bank and UN have linked reconstruction aid to an “independent and transparent judiciary.” Key Reform Priorities ·        Implement newly enacted Judicial Independence Law (Aug 2025) ·        Activate judicial formations and newly appointed Court of Cassation and HJC members. ·        Protection of judicial investigations from political interference ·        Adoption of law on administrative courts ·        Digitalization and capacity development of courts ·        Unblock and finalize Beirut Port explosion investigation. Reform Actions & StatusSpecific Reform Actions & Accountability Reform Action Required Current Status Lead Authority Implementing Body Oversight / Supporting Actors Primary Source Return law to Parliament under Article 57 for reconsideration Pending scheduling on the parliamentary agenda; no re-vote held by end-November, with legislative sessions repeatedly disrupted by disputes over the electoral law. Presidency N.A. Parliament Asharq Al-Awsat, 2 Oct 2025, on halted sessions due to boycotts. Rebalance Council of the Judiciary composition and voting Council set at 4 elected, 4 ex officio, plus 2 selected by the eight; override of appointment deadlock requires 7 of 10. Experts urge a majority of elected members and a lower override threshold. Parliament N.A. Venice Commission, civil society Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025   Address Article 42 authority of Prosecutor General Law allows the Prosecutor General at Cassation to order lower prosecutors to halt proceedings, creating a major risk of interference. Requires amendment or strict safeguards. Parliament N.A. HRW, legal experts, Venice Commission Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 Decide on promulgation or return to Parliament Judges Club formally asked the President on 12 Aug 2025 not to publish and to return the law for proper review. Reporting indicates possible return or a constitutional challenge if published. Presidency N.A. MPs intending constitutional review Judges Club press conference, 25 Aug 2025; Malak Aqil, 23 Aug 2025 Enact law on judicial independence Adopted 31 July 2025 as a single-article vote without article-by-article debate. Positive elements on governance, evaluation, expression, and candidacy, but significant flaws remain. Parliament, Justice & Administration Committee Justice & Admin Committee Justice Forum, Legal Forum for Justice, Venice Commission Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 Adopt internal bylaws and transparency tools mandated by the law Required by the new law to strengthen governance and standardize procedures, to be prepared ahead of entry into force on 1 Jan 2026. HJC HJC and judicial bodies Civil society observers Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 Safeguard judges’ freedom of expression with workable notification Law affirms freedoms and requires notifying the HJC President 48 hours before media appearances. Needs a narrow, objective protocol to avoid chilling effects. HJC HJC Civil society, bar associations Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 Advance administrative courts reform Remains a priority parallel to the judicial law to ensure comprehensive justice sector reform. Parliament Justice & Admin Committee Venice Commission Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 Finalize general judicial appointments / formations PM Salam signed the full judicial formations decree on 1 Aug 2025 as prepared by the HJC; operationalizes judicial careers and case allocations. Council of Ministers HJC MoJ El Nashra 1 August 2025 Restore quorum at Court of Cassation April 2025 decree appointed the ten presidents of Cassation chambers, re-establishing quorum. Draft law introduces an automatic-enactment clause for future appointments to prevent deadlock. Court of Cassation Council of Ministers Justice Minister, President, Prime Minister NNA 2 May 2025; Al-Modon 4 May 2025 Finalize general judicial appointments Between April and mid-May 2025, the Cabinet appointed 7 members of the Higher Judicial Council (HJC), including prominent presidents of courts. Two additional members (Judges Rizkallah and Dakroub) were elected on 15 May by the Court of Cassation. The Council has now reached legal quorum and will begin partial judicial formations. The 10th and final member is pending appointment by decree. HJC President of the Republic, Council of Ministers, Court of Cassation Justice Minister NNA, 15 May 2025; An-Nahar, 15 May 2025 Adopt law on administrative courts Drafting by sub‑committee under Justice & Admin Committee Parliament Justice & Admin Committee Venice Commission, Legal Forum for Justice, Justice Forum Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Operationalize fair investigation of Beirut Port explosion and political crimes Legal quorum restored; with new law and formations, procedural barriers lifted; political immunities remain the primary obstacle. Court of Cassation, General Assembly, Investigative Judges Ministry of Justice, Judicial Investigating Unit UN Human Rights Council, civil society Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; HRW 2025; Amnesty 2025; OJ C, C/2024/4000, 17.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4000/oj Digitalize court case management Not started Ministry of Justice MoJ IT Dept. World Bank, UNDP World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024 Reform HJC appointment process Draft law with hybrid formula pending secondary amendments; interim relief achieved through August 2025 formations. Ministry of Justice Higher Judicial Council Parliament, Venice Commission, Lebanese Judges Assoc. Compilation of Venice Commission Opinions and Reports concerning Judges, 2025; Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025; Coalition for Judicial Independence Statement, 7 May 2025. Enforce anti-corruption measures within judiciary National Anti-Corruption Commission established; initial audits commenced. National Anti-Corruption Commission Judicial Inspection Authority UNDP, Transparency International UNDP 2025 Grant autonomy to Judicial Inspection Board Draft enhances independence and broadens nomination channels (HJC, Council of State, Court of Audit) but leaves procedural-appeal gaps. Ministry of Justice Judicial Inspection Board Higher Judicial Council OJ C, C/2024/4000, 17.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4000/oj; Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025; Venice Commission, June 2022 opinion Launch courtroom operations in Roumieh prison National and regional observers noted reactivation in 2025 and urged expansion; no reverse trend reported in Oct–Nov. Ministry of Justice ISF, Judiciary Beirut Bar Association, civil society L’Orient-Le Jour, 21 May 2025; ANND UPR brief, 23 Oct 2025. Reform Roadmap Timeline & Critical PathRecent Milestone Date Description Critical Path Status Source 5 Sep 2025 President returned the Judicial Independence Law to Parliament by Decree 1105 under Article 57 with detailed reasons. Re-deliberation required Presidential Decree No. 1105, 5 Sep 2025 23 Aug 2025 Reporting indicated potential presidential return or constitutional challenge if promulgated. Decision point Malak Aqil, 23 Aug 2025 12 Aug 2025 Judges Club requested the President not to publish and to return the law to Parliament. Pending executive decision Judges Club press conference, 25 Aug 2025 7 Aug 2025 HRW assessed the law as containing positive reforms yet insufficient to ensure independence, urged amendments in line with Venice Commission. Guidance issued Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025 1 Aug 2025 PM Salam signed judicial formations decree, completing full HJC and Cassation appointments. Completed El Nashra 1 August 2025 31 July 2025 Parliament adopted the Judicial Independence Law by single-article procedure, with last-minute insertions and no article-by-article vote.   L’Orient-Le Jour 1 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 June 17–18, 2025 Parliamentary committee session on judicial independence law ends in deadlock; conflict between Justice Minister and committee chair escalates Blocked Parliament Monitoring Observatory, 18 June 2025 June 3, 2025 First trial sessions held in Roumieh courtroom; 20 sessions, 7 verdicts rendered In progress MoJ Press Statement May 2, 2025 Cabinet approves final draft Law on Judicial Independence; Referral of Judicial Independence Law from Government to Parliament Pending; Parliament awaits formal submission from government. Completed Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025 May 7, 2025 Civil society calls for ratification and further amendments In progress Coalition for Judicial Independence Statement, 7 May 2025 May 15, 2025 Judges Rizkallah and Dakroub elected unopposed by the Court of Cassation to the Higher Judicial Council Completed NNA, 15 May 2025  Next Steps – Transparency and Accountability Calendar   Action Responsible Entity Target Date Source Parliament to re-deliberate the returned law per Article 57 with line-by-line fixes specified in Decree 1105 Parliament & Justice & Admin Committee Q4 2025 Presidential Decree No. 1105, 5 Sep 2025 Prepare and publish the internal bylaws and transparency mechanisms required by the law HJC Before 1 Jan 2026 Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025 Table amendments to Article 42, Council composition, and 7-of-10 threshold, and align with Venice Commission Parliament, Justice & Admin Committee Before 1 Jan 2026 Human Rights Watch, 7 Aug 2025; Nizar Saghieh, 7 Aug 2025 If published, file targeted constitutional challenge focusing on procedure and core defects Concerned MPs Upon publication Malak Aqil, 23 Aug 2025 Decide on publication or return of the law for re-deliberation President of the Republic Aug–Sep 2025 Judges Club press conference, 25 Aug 2025; Malak Aqil, 23 Aug 2025 Publish implementing decrees and internal bylaws for Judicial Independence Law MoJ & HJC Q3 2025 An‑Nahar 31 July 2025 Expand in-prison court hearings to other facilities and publish quarterly stats MoJ & Judiciary N/A MoJ Press Statement Government to refer draft Judicial Independence Law to Parliament Council of Ministers Q2–Q3 2025 Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025 Parliament to begin review of judicial independence law to be finalized and adopted Justice & Admin Committee; Parliament; Conditional on government submission Q2–Q3 2025 Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025 Incorporate Venice Commission feedback in final amendments Justice & Admin Committee; Parliament Q2–Q3 2025 Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025; Coalition for Judicial Independence Statement, 7 May 2025 Conduct general judicial reshuffle, including transfers and appointments without delay Council of Ministers & Higher Judicial Council Expected Q2 2025, post-quorum Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; NNA, 15 May 2025 Public hearings on judicial appointments and oversight roles Parliament + Civil Society 2025 Coalition for Judicial Independence Statement, 7 May 2025 Resume Beirut blast investigation Investigating Judges, HJC Immediate HRW 2025; Amnesty 2025; OJ C, C/2024/4000, 17.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4000/oj Nominate final HJC member Minister of Justice (via President of Republic) Immediate NNA, 15 May 2025; An-Nahar, 15 May 2025 Remove executive barriers delaying Beirut blast investigations Government of Lebanon Immediate Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Digitalize court processes and case access including publishing feasibility roadmap for digital case management Minister of Justice 2025–2026 Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025  Implementation Bottlenecks & Required Actions Bottleneck Official Explanation Required Action Source Committee obstruction and institutional conflict Committee chair rejected government’s endorsed draft, blocked Justice Minister participation, and reverted to older 2023 version Reinstate government-endorsed draft on the agenda and resume participatory review process in line with Article 35 and 38 of internal regulations Legal Agenda, 12 June 2025; Parliament Monitoring Observatory, 18 June 2025 Partial adherence to Venice Commission recommendations Cabinet adopted only 1 out of 8 recommendations fully Parliament to incorporate Venice Commission advice during review phase Venice Commission (2022); Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025 Lack of HJC independence and politicized appointments Political interference in judiciary persistently blocks reform Enact HJC law reforming composition, insulation from politics HRW 2025; Amnesty 2025; World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024 Delays in judicial appointments and transfers Administrative backlog and political vetoes Expedite judicial formations via clear timelines Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Obstruction of key investigations and stalled port blast investigation Legal and administrative barriers lifted (Cassation quorum restored); Abuse of immunities and refusal to appear before judiciary; political immunity, legal loopholes Lift immunities, permit international inquiry support; enable unimpeded access to judicial process for lead investigators Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; Kataeb.org, 3 May 2025 Draft judicial laws remain unratified Delayed legislative action Parliament to pass laws in line with Venice Commission advice Legal Agenda, 5–6 May 2025; Coalition for Judicial Independence Statement, 7 May 2025 Low digital capacity across courts Absence of a unified digital platform for case tracking; No digital infrastructure. Adopt phased rollout of court digitalization Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025; World Bank Lebanon – SCD, Summer 2024   Stakeholders & Roles Entity Core Function Ministry of Justice Drafts judicial policy, countersigns decrees Higher Judicial Council Governs judicial careers & appointments Court of Cassation Final civil/criminal appeals; elects HJC members Parliament Justice & Admin Committee Prepares judiciary bills National Anti-Corruption Commission Investigates and prosecutes corruption within public institutions Justice Forum (منتدى العدالة) National participatory platform (launched Feb 2024) coordinating judicial reform roadmap; includes judiciary, executive, legislative branches, bar associations, civil society, and academia. Supported by UNDP and EU. Legal Forum for Justice (الملتقى القانوني للعدالة) Technical legal platform convened by MoJ and Venice Commission to align draft judicial laws with international standards. Focused on legislative reviews (e.g., Judicial Independence Law). Venice Commission Technical/legal advisory body (Council of Europe) Coalition for Judicial Independence CSO-led coalition advocating for legal, transparent, and merit-based reform of the judiciary. Issues alerts and position papers to track political interference.   Legal & Policy Framework Instrument Status Key Provisions Implementation Note Draft Law on Judicial Independence Approved by Cabinet (2 May 2025); pending referral to Parliament Introduces merit-based appointments, election of HJC members, limits on arbitrary transfers, and expanded judges' rights. Draft reviewed by Legal Forum (MoJ + Venice Commission). Civil society urges further amendments on financial autonomy, appointment neutrality, and disciplinary protections. Venice Commission Recommendations Issued Provides benchmarks for judicial independence, appointment procedures, structural autonomy, and disciplinary safeguards. Only one out of eight core recommendations fully implemented in the current draft. Full alignment pending. Law on Beirut Port Blast Investigation Not passed Would establish a special tribunal and legal protections for investigating judges. Investigations continue to face obstruction due to political immunities and legal loopholes. Cabinet Decree (8 May 2025) appointing 10 Cassation presidents Enforced Reinstates quorum at the Court of Cassation by appointing all 10 Presidents. Decree signed by President, Prime Minister, and Ministers of Justice and Finance; unlocks progress on pending high-level cases. 2024 Justice Forum Recommendations Endorsed Outlines a national reform roadmap including judicial independence, expanded judicial representation, procedural justice, and transparency. Not codified in law yet. Recommendations were developed through multi-stakeholder working groups, including civil society, judiciary, and donors. EU Parliament Resolution (2023) Political support Demands accountability in the Beirut Port case, structural independence of the judiciary, and international involvement. Continues to serve as diplomatic pressure for reform and anti-impunity efforts.   Official Sources and Reference Materials   Instrument Source Ministerial Statement (25 Feb 2025) Ministerial Statement, 25 Feb 2025 Amnesty Intl. Statement on Judicial Reform (Jan 2025) Amnesty 2025 Human Rights Watch Letter to PM Salam (Jan 2025) HRW 2025 Situation in Lebanon – European Parliament resolution of 12 July 2023 on the situation in Lebanon (2023/2742(RSP)) OJ C, C/2024/4000, 17.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4000/oj Compilation of Venice Commission Opinions and Reports concerning Judges, 2025 Compilation of Venice Commission Opinions and Reports concerning Judges, 2025; World Bank Lebanon - Systematic Country Diagnostic, Summer 2024 World Bank Lebanon - Systematic country diagnostic, Summer 2024   List of Acronyms – Justice Reform Tracker Acronym Full Name HJC Higher Judicial Council MoJ Ministry of Justice HRW Human Rights Watch UNDP United Nations Development Programme EU European Union IMF International Monetary Fund UN United Nations CAS Central Administration of Statistics 3RF Reform, Recovery, and Reconstruction Framework OJ C Official Journal of the European Union, Series C ELI European Legislation Identifier Amnesty Amnesty International NGO Non-Governmental Organization   [1] All reform data presented here is based on official Lebanese government sources, such as laws, decrees, strategies, and verified public data. Where possible, each update is linked to a document, gazette entry, or institutional publication. read more