French investigators have launched a formal corruption inquiry into former Lebanese prime minister and billionaire businessman Najib Mikati, raising new questions about political corruption and financial misconduct within Lebanon’s ruling elite. The probe, announced on September 14, follows a complaint lodged in 2024 by anti-corruption organizations and a collective of Lebanese victims who accuse Mikati and members of his family of amassing vast fortunes through fraudulent practices.

The investigation is being handled by France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, which specializes in complex financial crimes, although the office has so far declined to comment publicly. Still, the inquiry’s confirmation by the lawyers’ groups and the Mikati family’s indirect acknowledgment through a carefully worded statement has lent credibility to the seriousness of the case.

Mikati, 69, is no stranger to controversy. A self-made billionaire in the telecoms sector, he has long straddled the worlds of business and politics. He served three separate terms as Lebanon’s prime minister, the most recent of which ended in January this year. His resignation came amid a deepening financial and political crisis in Lebanon, where widespread corruption and mismanagement have fueled economic collapse, public anger, and waves of emigration.

The complaint against Mikati was filed by the Collective of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices in Lebanon and the French NGO Sherpa, which focuses on fighting financial crime and protecting victims of corruption. According to these groups, Mikati and his brother, Taha Mikati, accumulated their wealth through fraudulent means, manipulating financial systems and exploiting state institutions in a country where elite enrichment is seen as a key driver of national decline.

In their view, Mikati is emblematic of a ruling class that has siphoned off public wealth while ordinary Lebanese citizens endure shortages of basic goods, crumbling infrastructure, and one of the worst currency devaluations in modern history.

The Mikati family, for their part, has firmly rejected the allegations. In a statement, they insisted that the origins of their fortune are “clear, legal and transparent.” They also stressed their confidence in French justice, saying they are ready to provide “any complementary information requested” to investigators.

The careful phrasing of the family’s defense suggests an attempt to project cooperation while distancing themselves from any suggestion of guilt. Yet for many Lebanese citizens, the news of the French investigation is unlikely to be dismissed so easily, given the widespread perception of endemic corruption among political leaders.

The Mikati probe comes as part of a broader pattern of international scrutiny targeting Lebanon’s political and financial elite. French authorities have already taken significant action against Riad Salameh, the former governor of Lebanon’s central bank, who is now wanted on fraud and corruption charges in France. His brother, Raja Salameh, has also been formally charged.

The simultaneous targeting of Salameh and Mikati-two of Lebanon’s most prominent power brokers-signals a growing willingness among European authorities to pursue legal accountability where Lebanon’s domestic institutions have consistently failed.

While Lebanese courts remain paralyzed by political interference, international investigations have offered a rare glimmer of hope for accountability. However, these cases also raise complex questions of sovereignty, as critics argue that foreign courts are stepping in to do the work Lebanon’s judiciary refuses or is unable to do.

For Lebanon, the French inquiry into Mikati is more than just another corruption case—it is a reflection of the structural failures that have brought the country to the brink of collapse. Since 2019, Lebanon has endured a devastating financial meltdown, compounded by political paralysis, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and persistent foreign interference.

At the heart of the crisis is a political class that has remained entrenched for decades, enriching itself while failing to implement reforms demanded by the international community. Ordinary citizens, meanwhile, face soaring poverty rates, with the Lebanese pound having lost more than 90 percent of its value.

In this climate, Mikati’s case resonates beyond his personal fortune. It symbolizes a system where political power and financial privilege are deeply intertwined, creating a cycle of impunity. For many Lebanese, the fact that French investigators-not local authorities-are leading the charge only highlights the weakness of domestic accountability mechanisms.

The trajectory of the French inquiry remains uncertain. Corruption investigations of this scale are complex and can take years to produce indictments or convictions. Yet the very existence of the probe places Mikati under an international spotlight at a time when his political influence in Lebanon remains significant.

Should French prosecutors decide to escalate the case, Mikati could face formal charges similar to those brought against Salameh. Such a development would not only damage his reputation but could also send shockwaves through Lebanon’s fragile political system, where elites often shield one another from prosecution.

Ultimately, the case against Najib Mikati will serve as a litmus test for the reach of international justice in tackling corruption among global elites. For Lebanese citizens, long disillusioned with their own political system, it offers at least a symbolic measure of accountability. Whether it delivers tangible justice, however, remains to be seen.

As Lebanon struggles to rebuild trust in governance, the French inquiry into Mikati underscores a bitter truth: while the Lebanese people bear the brunt of the crisis, it is foreign courts that are now stepping in to demand answers from the country’s powerful.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings