In a politically sensitive moment for Lebanon, and with the impending visit of U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack, who is expected to present a roadmap focused on Hezbollah’s weapons and Lebanon’s future ties with the international community, Lebanon’s top officials are engaged in intensive consultations aimed at crafting a unified, balanced stance that avoids domestic turmoil and external escalation.

Amid heightened diplomatic maneuvering, the judicial authority has also re-emerged as a critical front in Lebanon’s web of crises.  In a significant move, parliament has approved 1.5 trillion Lebanese pounds in emergency funding for the Judges’ Mutual Support Fund, as part of an additional appropriation within the 2025 budget, according to the draft prepared by the Finance and Budget Committee.

A senior judicial source told kataeb.org that this funding represents a critical foundation for enabling the judiciary to continue performing its constitutional and oversight duties amid worsening economic conditions. The source emphasized that the funds should not be construed as a pay raise for judges, but rather as support for essential social services, including medical care, hospitalization, education, housing loans, marriage and childbirth grants, and end-of-service benefits; that would help preserve the dignity of judges and ensure a basic level of professional and financial stability.

The source described the funding as a “safety net” that could help avert a potential collapse of the judiciary in the event of mass resignations or work stoppages in protest of deteriorating conditions. The funding, the source added, also helps reinforce judicial independence, as it comes not from political factions or influential state actors, but is instead provided through an independent financial law passed by constitutional institutions.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar announced via X that Parliament, under the leadership of Speaker Nabih Berri, had passed the expedited law to fund the support fund. He praised the efforts of the Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, in shaping and finalizing the legislation.

While the initial proposal had called for 2 trillion pounds, the amount was reduced to 1.5 trillion following extensive discussions within the parliamentary committee. Still, experts say the approved figure should be sufficient to cover the fund’s accumulated deficit and ensure its short-term viability.

Established in 1983, the Judges’ Mutual Support Fund is managed by an elected council currently headed by former Financial Prosecutor General Judge Ali Ibrahim. The fund has long served as a critical support mechanism to uphold the judiciary’s basic dignity and independence in a country increasingly consumed by crises.

This is the English adaptation of an Arabic article posted on Kataeb.org by Chady Hilani.