Al Mostachar includes a collection of Lebanonâs laws, legislative and regulatory texts and jurisprudence. For this reason minor changes can trigger instability. The Lebanese legal system is based on and inspired by the French legalsystem. This can only be guaranteed with a reformed judiciary. Parliament elects the President by two-thirds majority in the first round or an absolute majority in the second round. The President is the head of the State. Since the beginning of the recent protests, the LJA requested that the Central Bank temporarily freeze and lift bank secrecy on the accounts of politicians and their families, in order to investigate their source of wealth. Ghosn then added that he is “a lot more” confident in Lebanon’s judicial system than Japan’s. They are each divided into chambers with one presiding and two associate judges and are mandated to serve as a second-degree court reviewing the decisions of the lower court. . Civil Courts: Civil courts are divided into: 1. Ultimate supervisory power rests with the minister of justice, who appoints the magistrates. The Lebanese judicial system is governed by the following: The principle of equality granting the right to all Lebanese and foreign persons or legal entities to have recourse to the Lebanese courts The principle of multi-level jurisdiction: Court of First Instance, Court of Appeals. This period lasted until February 14, 2005 when the Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was assassinated. The New York Times reported âHezbollah and its political allies expanded their share of seats in Lebanonâs Parliament, increasing their political clout at the expense of the countryâs Western-backed prime ministerâ¦.â See Ben Hubbard & Hwaida Saad, Lebanon Elections Boost Hezbollahâs Clout, The New York Times (May 7, 2018) (may require NYT subscription). Beirut, the capital city, and its suburbs contain nearly half of the Lebanese population. Prompted by the government’s now-scrapped proposed taxes – including a USD$6 monthly fee on WhatsApp calls – peaceful protests have swept the country from Tripoli in the north to Tyre in the south since 17 October. On Nov. 13, Jad Al Rayess was fined 200,000 Lebanese Pounds ($132) by a military court, 11 months after security forces detained him at a protest on Beirut’s Ring Road. Lebanon is one of the most indebted countries in the world. The Lebanese Diaspora network (The Network) aspires to a Sovereign, Democratic, Pluralistic, Fair, Just and Prosperous Lebanon; where citizens are equal before an independent judicial system under the Rule of Law with accountability and transparency. (Previously updated by Lara Eid in February 2016). Businesses are mostly hindered by entrenched patronage networks monopolizing the economy and impeding competitiveness, but also by petty corruption when applying for basic services. The Prime Minister is the deputy commander of the High Council of National Defense. Appeals may be taken to eleven courts of appeal, each made up of three judges. The Personal Status Courts: The Sharia Courts are divided into Shia and Sunni units which settle matters of personal status in their respective community. He must call an extraordinary session if a request is made by a majority of the deputies. The demonstrators are challenging Lebanon’s power-sharing political system that divides posts equally between Muslims and Christians in all state institutions to guarantee the representation of its 18 recognised religious sects. Constitutional and legal amendments will be vital to ensure such independence. The PM sets the Cabinetâs policies and strategies and presents them to Parliament, convenes the Cabinet, sets its agenda, and coordinates the work of various ministries.