Salim Jreissati

Early life and education

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

Career

Jreissati is a retired judge. He became a registered member of the Beirut Bar Association on 8 November 1974. In 1976, he began to work at the University of Saint Joseph as a lecturer. He is the former member of the Lebanese Constitutional Council (1977 - 2009). 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. In 2010, Jressati questioned the legitimacy of STL. He was also one of the legal advisors, who contributed to the drafting of the new Syrian constitution. In addition, he served as an adviser to former president Emile Lahoud.

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

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

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

On 18 December 2016 Jreissati was named the minister of justice in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Business activities

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

Personal life

Jreissati is married and has three children.