The National Bloc: The Appointment of the Financial Prosecutor is a Key Test for the Government

In light of the ongoing tensions within the Cabinet over the appointment of the Financial Prosecutor—especially following Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri’s insistence on appointing Judge Zaher Hamadeh, who is affiliated with him—the National Bloc affirms that this appointment cannot be considered a minor administrative matter. Rather, it is a new test of the state's ability to move beyond power-sharing dynamics and toward a logic based on competence and merit.

The Financial Prosecutor's role is not a light bureaucratic detail. It is a central pillar in the fight against corruption and financial crimes—from money laundering to forgery, embezzlement, and more. As such, the person occupying this position must meet the highest standards of competence, integrity, and independence. This position exists to serve the Lebanese people, not any political faction.

The continued efforts by the Speaker of Parliament to impose loyalists in judicial positions designated for the Shiite community constitutes a blatant violation of the principle of separation of powers. It entrenches a culture of personal loyalty and political allegiance at the expense of qualifications and the principle of appointing the right person to the right position.

Judge Zaher Hamadeh has repeatedly demonstrated clear political bias, particularly in his handling of the Beirut Port explosion case, where he positioned himself against the victims’ families rather than standing with them and with justice. In doing so, he continues the same approach as his predecessor, Judge Ali Ibrahim, who failed to act on major corruption cases.

Accordingly, the National Bloc calls for the appointment of a Financial Prosecutor who is honest, independent, patriotic, and courageous—someone who will pursue accountability rather than cover up wrongdoings. A prosecutor worthy of a state governed by the rule of law, not one dictated by political loyalties.

In this context, the responsibility falls on the executive authority—headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam—and on President Joseph Aoun to approach this appointment with a constitutional and institutional mindset, free from backroom deals. This moment is an early test of the new leadership’s seriousness in breaking with patronage practices and paving the way for genuine reform.

It is worth noting the commendable stance of Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who has insisted on prioritizing professional qualifications and refused to yield to the logic of personal loyalties.

Lebanese citizens are in urgent need of an independent judiciary, not one held hostage. Therefore, judicial appointments should not be seen as mere procedural formalities, but rather as another crucial test of the government’s willingness to break with the entrenched mindset of sectarian power-sharing and to uphold the principles of competence and merit.