Appointments Head towards Breakthrough as Suleiman, Aoun Agree to Resolve Crisis

The controversial appointment of top civil servants in state posts is witnessing a breakthrough after President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun agreed to make compromises to resolve the crisis, As Safir newspaper reported on Thursday.

Concerning the head of the Higher Judicial Council post, Suleiman is no longer holding onto his candidate judge Alice Shabtini, while Aoun agreed to reconsider his nomination to judge Tannous Meshleb.

According to the daily, the officials are discussing two new qualified candidates.

However, the successor of the current General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza will be “calmly” tackled as his tenure ends on July 30, As Safir noted.

On Tuesday, Suleiman approved a decree referred by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and drafted by Justice Minister Shaqib Qortbawi to appoint five judges to the Higher Judicial Council.

The HJC is formed of 10 members in which the head of the council, the General Prosecutor and the head of the Judicial Inspection Board are appointed by a decree issued by the cabinet.

Two of the remaining seven are chosen by the members of the Court of Cassation, and the remaining five are appointed by the justice minister and approved by the president without necessarily consulting the government.