Appointments Delayed over Fears of Aoun’s ‘Confiscation’ of Christian Share
The cabinet is not expected to make new appointments to state positions this week amid a dispute inside the government over Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s insistence to give the majority of Christian shares to his parliamentary Change and Reform bloc.
Ministerial sources told several Beirut dailies that the appointments are not on the agenda of the cabinet that is scheduled to meet on Wednesday. But ministers could raise the issue if ongoing consultations lead to an agreement on the name of the president of the Higher Judicial Council.
The candidates named for the post are Judges Tannous Meshleb, Alice Shabtini and Arlette al-Tawil Jreissati.
The sources expected intense contacts between Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi on one side and President Michel Suleiman and Aoun on the other to reach an agreement on the name of the HJC chief in coordination with Premier Najib Miqati.
They said that several members of the cabinet have fears that Aoun would “confiscate” the Christian share. The FPM chief is receiving the backing of his ally Hizbullah under the pretext that he has the largest Christian representation in the government and that he should be rewarded for his stances.
However, Suleiman, Miqati and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who represent the centrist forces in the cabinet, are playing down Aoun’s demands, the sources said.
Aoun is holding onto naming Judge Tawil for the post of the HJC president without taking into consideration the seniority and the competence of the person, they said, adding that Minister Qortbawi, who belongs to the Change and Reform bloc, is seeking to appease Aoun but at the same time calling for the selection of the top judge away from political considerations.
Meanwhile, the cabinet is expected to discuss 150 items placed on its agenda including measures to hold municipal by-elections in the governorates of Mount Lebanon, Bekaa and South and covering the expenses of the salaries of judges.
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