| Office: | Minister of State for Administrative Reform |
| Primeminister: | Rafik Hariri |
| Term Start: | 7 November 1996 |
| Term End: | 4 December 1998 |
| Office1: | Minister of State |
| Primeminister1: | Rafik Hariri |
| Predecessor1: | Shahé Barsoumian |
| Term Start1: | 2 September 1994 |
| Term End1: | 25 May 1995 |
| Office2: | Minister of Interior |
| Primeminister2: | Rafik Hariri |
| Successor2: | Michel Murr |
| Term Start2: | 31 October 1992 |
| Term End2: | 2 September 1994 |
| Birth Name: | Bishara Jamil Merhej |
| Birth Place: | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Party: | Al Baath Arab Socialist Party (until 1973) |
| Alma Mater: | American University of Beirut |
| Spouse: | Wali Grote |
| Nationality: | Lebanese |
| Children: | 2 |
Bishara Merhej (born 1946) is a Lebanese journalist and politician who held various cabinet posts, including minister of interior. He also served at the Lebanese parliament in the 1990s.
Merhej was born in Beirut in 1946.[1] He hails from a Greek Orthodox family.[2] His parents were Jamil Merhej and Salma Matar Rahbani.[3]
Merhej obtained a degree in economics from the American University of Beirut in 1967.[1] [3]
Following his graduation Merhej first worked as a teacher.[1] Then he began to work as a journalist[1] and wrote articles for the economy section of Al Anwar.[3] He is cofounder of the Active Arab Front and joined the Al Baath Arab Socialist Party where he served in different capacities until 1973.[1] In 1975 he involved in the establishment of the Assembly of Popular Leagues and Association which supported a united Lebanon and Arab identity of the country.[1]
Merhej was elected to the Parliament in the elections of 1992 and 1996 representing Beirut.[1] At the parliament he was a member of the human rights committee.[2] On 31 October 1992 he was appointed interior minister to the first cabinet of Rafik Hariri who selected him to the post. In a reshuffle Merhej was named state minister on 2 September 1994.[2] [4] Merhej was the minister of state for administrative reform in the third cabinet of Hariri between 7 November 1996 and 4 December 1998.[1]
Merhej is married to Wali Grote, a physician, with who he has two daughters.[1]