Justice Minister Adel Nassar said key judicial reforms are advancing and stressed that sensitive legal files, including the Beirut port explosion investigation, must proceed according to judicial timelines rather than political or public pressure.

Speaking to Annahar newspaper, Nassar said the recently passed law regulating the judiciary marked a major milestone, fulfilling a commitment he made upon taking office. He said the law was approved after swift amendments by parliament’s Administration and Justice Committee, following observations raised by President Joseph Aoun, which he endorsed. 

Nassar said the law significantly enhances judicial independence. Under the new framework, a majority of members of the Supreme Judicial Council will be elected by judges themselves, rather than appointed by the cabinet upon the recommendation of the justice minister. He said the shift curtails government influence over the council and strengthens the autonomy of the judiciary.

He added that judicial appointments will no longer require the approval of the justice minister. Instead, appointments prepared by the Supreme Judicial Council will take effect if endorsed by at least seven of its ten members.

The law also includes measures aimed at protecting judges from political pressure, Nassar said, including provisions that prevent the executive branch or any other authority from transferring judges from their posts for a defined period. He noted that the role of the Judicial Studies Institute has been expanded to provide continuous academic training for judges, alongside the establishment of a judicial research center.

Turning to the Beirut port blast investigation, Nassar said expectations surrounding the timing of an indictment must take into account the nature of judicial proceedings.

“Judicial timing does not correspond to media timelines or public opinion,” he said, stressing that the investigating judge is obligated to assemble a complete and comprehensive case file before the case moves to trial.

He said the investigation is advancing with unprecedented momentum, noting that for the first time in Lebanon’s history an investigating judge has traveled abroad to question a suspect. Nassar said the Justice Ministry is providing all possible support within its legal authority to secure information relevant to the case.

Drawing a comparison with the prosecution of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy — who was tried years after the alleged offense — Nassar said any decision in the port case remains entirely at the discretion of the investigating judge and contingent on the completion of the investigation. He acknowledged the profound emotional toll of the disaster on Lebanese society and on the families of the victims.

Addressing reports that he had obstructed progress on the issue of Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons, Nassar dismissed the claims as inaccurate. He said he remains committed to the government’s policy of improving relations with Syria while safeguarding the sovereignty of both countries.

Nassar said resolving the detainees’ file requires meeting legal and constitutional requirements that cannot be bypassed, adding that he does not believe anyone in Lebanon is seeking to circumvent those conditions.