Wajdi Mallat (1919-2010)-First President of the Constitutional Council
Birth
Wajdi Mallat was born to Chebli Mallat and Marie Elias Chekrallah on November 22, 1919 in Baabda. He had two brothers, Chawki and George. His father, commonly known as the Poet of the Cedars, was born in 1875 and had a career in journalism after studying at the Sagesse and the Thalathat Aqmar School. Chebli Mallat worked for several newspapers such as Al-Arz, An-Naseer and Ar-Rawda and published also his own called Jaridat Al-Watan. He represented Lebanon’s authors in different cultural and literary conferences, including above all the ceremony that paid allegiance to Ahmad Chawki as The Prince of Arabic Poetry where he read his famed poem, Famou el-Mizab, awarding him the title “Poet of the Cedars”. Chebli Mallat died on February 8, 1961.
Education
Wajdi Mallat studied at the Université Saint Joseph in Beirut and stood out for his mastery of both Arabic and French and the many prizes he received. He later pursued law studies at the French Institute of Law and obtained his degree in 1942.
Career
He did his practical training at the law firms of two renowned jurists, Edmond Kosbar and Youssef Sawda. In 1949, he started practicing independently and established a law firm of his own, which flourished and became one of the most respected law firms in Lebanon and the wider Arab World.
Positions
During his lifetime, Wajdi Mallat earned high-level political, judicial and unionist positions. He was appointed Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in the Rashid Karami government under President Charles Helou and held office between July 25, 1965 and April 9, 1966.
In 1972, he was elected Head of the Bar Association of Beirut. Two years later, together with prominent Arab lawyers, he helped in the founding of the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Beirut in 1974. On May 23, 1993, Parliament elected him to the membership of the Constitutional Council. He was voted President of the Council later in 1994, thus becoming the first jurist ever to preside over the Council.
Resignation
Wajdi Mallat tendered his resignation in 1997 about half way through his six-year term. His resignation came in protest of the Council’s dismissal of some of the appeals filed over explicit meddling in the 1996 parliamentary elections, as a result of the political pressure practiced on its members, let alone the eight-month delay in issuing the findings. Mallat refused to be a false witness in this newly-born judicial and constitutional entity, which was expected to rectify the judicial path in Lebanon and on which the Lebanese were pinning high hopes. He stated that the Constitutional Council had been prematurely formed and that Lebanon is yet to reach the political maturity and democratic development that make way for the establishment of an independent constitutional judiciary.
A great deal was said about his resignation. Some reported that Wajdi Mallat was fully convinced that three MPs would lose deputyship to be replaced by other three MPs, but the Constitutional Council’s members bent under pressure and backed down from their position. It was also rumored that Mallat used to face threats whenever he took a decision to dismiss an MP, an allegation which he denied, saying that he simply could not get along with the Council’s members. ‘There was no intellectual harmony between me and some of the members. They are all excellent in terms of morality, mentality and gallantry but there simply was not intellectual, judicial and constitutional compatibility between us’ he said.
Works
Wajdi Mallat published several legal references as well as a compendium on his father entitled The Poet of the Cedars: School of National Identity. He also oversaw the publishing of A Collection of Poems, a compilation enclosing the poetry heritage of his great-uncle Tamer.
Wajdi Mallat compiled all his stances and articles into one book entitled Wajdi Mallat’s Stances. It was published by An-Nahar and was divided into three parts:
“He stated that the Constitutional Council had been prematurely formed and that Lebanon is yet to reach the political maturity and democratic development that make way for the establishment of an independent constitutional judiciary.“
The first part tackled legal and juristic matters and addressed issues such as human rights yesterday and today, democracy, the injustices caused by landlords, the constitutionality of the Parliament’s extension of its own term.
The second part covered public affairs including lawyers, elections, Kamal Jumblat, economy, government and reform and ways to save democracy in Lebanon.
The third and final part was dedicated to literature and poetry. Amongst the topics were: the distinction of Amine Rihani, Jawad Ousseiran and the judicial example, Khalil Qerdahi and the overflowing presence and the generosity of Michel Zakkour.
Family
He married Nouhad Diab and had four children with her: Shibli, Manal, Rayya and Jinan.
Death
He died on April 17, 2010 at the age of 91. His funeral ceremony was held at the Maronite Mar Jerjes Church in Downtown, Beirut, and he was laid to rest at the family’s cemetery in Baabda. Much like he labored and succeeded quietly furing his lifetime, Wajdi Mallat also retreated from life quietly.
“He stated that the Constitutional Council had been prematurely formed and that Lebanon is yet to reach the political maturity and democratic development that make way for the establishment of an independent constitutional judiciary.“
The first part tackled legal and juristic matters and addressed issues such as human rights yesterday and today, democracy, the injustices caused by landlords, the constitutionality of the Parliament’s extension of its own term.
The second part covered public affairs including lawyers, elections, Kamal Jumblat, economy, government and reform and ways to save democracy in Lebanon.
The third and final part was dedicated to literature and poetry. Amongst the topics were: the distinction of Amine Rihani, Jawad Ousseiran and the judicial example, Khalil Qerdahi and the overflowing presence and the generosity of Michel Zakkour.
Family
He married Nouhad Diab and had four children with her: Shibli, Manal, Rayya and Jinan.
Death
He died on April 17, 2010 at the age of 91. His funeral ceremony was held at the Maronite Mar Jerjes Church in Downtown, Beirut, and he was laid to rest at the family’s cemetery in Baabda. Much like he labored and succeeded quietly furing his lifetime, Wajdi Mallat also retreated from life quietly.
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