Salim Jreissati

Salim Jreissati
Minister of Labor
In office
24 February 2012 – 15 February 2014
Prime Minister Najib Mikati
Preceded by Charbel Nahas
Succeeded by Sejaan Azzi
Personal details
Born 4 April 1952
Nationality Lebanese
Political party Free Patriotic Movement
Alma mater American University of Beirut

Salim Jreissati (born 4 April 1952) is a lawyer and retired judge. He served as Lebanon's minister of labor between 2012 and February 2014. He is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement led by Michel Aoun.

Early life and education

Jreissati's family is from Zahle, east Lebanon.[1] He was born there on 4 April 1952.[2] He graduated from American University of Beirut with a bachelor's degree in 1967.[3] He received both the Lebanese and French degrees in law, and also, a diploma in private law.[2]

Career

Jreissati is a retired judge.[1] He became a registered member of the Beirut Bar Association on 8 November 1974.[2] In 1976, he began to work at the University of Saint Joseph as a lecturer.[4] He is the former member of the Lebanese Constitutional Council (1977 - 2009).[4][5] He served at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) as a legal advisor for the defence team of four Hezbollah members, including Mustafa Badr Al Din, who were allegedly involved in the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.[6] In 2010, Jressati questioned the legitimacy of STL.[5] He was also one of the legal advisors, who contributed to the drafting of the new Syrian constitution.[1] In addition, he served as an adviser to former president Emile Lahoud.[7]

He is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement.[8] He was appointed labor minister in Najib Mikati's cabinet on 24 February 2012, replacing Charbel Nahas.[7][9] Jreissati was nominated by the Free Patriotic Movement leader and member of parliament Michel Aoun.[10] After his appointment, Aoun announced that Jreissati became a member of the Change and Reform bloc,[11] represented by ten ministers in the cabinet composed of thirty ministers.[12]

Marwan Hamadeh, a member of parliament for the March 14 alliance, argued that Jreissati was appointed by Hezbollah.[13]

Jreissati's term ended on 15 February when Sejaan Azzi was appointed labor minister.[14]

Business activities

From 1993 to 1997 Jreissati was a member of the directors' board of At Tamwil Bank as a member.[2] In 2008, he was named as a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Emirates and Lebanon.[2]

Personal life

Jreissati is married and has three children.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Jreissati appointed new labor minister". The Daily Star. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Biography of Minister Salim Jreissati". Lebanon News. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Annual Fund Donors". American University of Beirut. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Salim Jreissati". Beirut. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "'Seven reasons why STL is illegitimate'". Press TV. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Cabinet to convene Monday, Nahhas replaced". The Daily Star. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Jreissati appointed new Lebanese labor minister". Al Akhbar. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Jreissati expected to replace Nahhas as Labor minister". Ya Libnan. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "Judge Salim Jreissati Succeeds Nahhas as Labor Minister". Naharnet. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Salim Jreissati new Labor Minister". Business News. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Jreissati Meets Aoun". Naharnet. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  12. ↑ Dakroub, Hussein (28 February 2012). "Nahhas bitter about being forced to resign". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "MP Hamadeh: Hezbollah appointed Jreissati as new labor minister". Ya Libnan. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  14. ↑ Lebanese cabinet formed after 10-month stalemate Al Arabiya. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.