Cabinet Will Not Tackle Appointment of Head of HJC during Wednesday’s Session
The appointment of the head of the Higher Judicial Council is still a point of contention between Lebanese officials as President Michel Suleiman confirmed that the candidate proposed by Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi will not be suggested before the cabinet during its session on Wednesday.
“The candidate suggested by Qortbawi concerning the head of the HJC will not be discussed during the cabinet meeting,” Suleiman told An Nahar newspaper.
On Monday, Qortbawi said that he suggested his candidate for the head of the HJC without revealing the name.
“Contacts are ongoing on several levels, however, we haven’t reached a solution yet,” he told al-Joumhouria newspaper.
A dispute had erupted between Suleiman and the head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun over the judicial appointments with the former insisting on the appointment of Judge Alice Shabtini at the head of the HJC, while the latter is insisting on the appointment of Judge Tannous Meshleb.
According to As Safir newspaper, the cabinet will approve three administrative appointments during its session at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday.
Qortbawi noted that President of the Court of Cassation Hatem Madi will soon call for a session to elect two new member of the HJC before the end of the tenure of the present members.
The tenures of seven members of the Higher Judicial Council end on June 5, while General Prosecutor Judge Saeed Mirza’s tenure ends in April.
“The appointment will take place before May 5,” Qortbawi said.
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