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.