La réforme de la justice administrative au Liban

Abstract

The Lebanese administrative judiciary is undergoing a profound crisis, exacerbated by the broader institutional disintegration affecting the country. This crisis appears rooted in deeper and more specific causes: an alleged original illegitimacy of the institution and the recurrent instabilities that have marked its development. Today, this branch of justice operates at a minimal level, remains dependent of the executive, and struggles to fully guarantee the right to a fair trial. Two reform proposals aim to address this situation. This article first seeks to reaffirm the historical legitimacy and institutional continuity of the administrative judiciary, thereby providing a sound basis for reform. It then offers a critical analysis of its shortcomings with regard to judicial independence and the protection of the right to a fair trial. Finally, it examines the process that led to the drafting of the two bills currently before the Chamber of Deputies and compares their main provisions through the lens of these two principles.