Suleiman, Aoun at Loggerheads Again on Appointment of HJC Head
The appointments of top civil servants in state posts remained a point of contention between President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun, As Safir newspaper reported on Monday.
The daily noted that despite the “optimistic” reports on the issue, the dispute hasn’t been resolved yet.
“Suleiman and Aoun are still holding onto their stances,” a source told As Safir newspaper.
The appointment of the head of the Higher Judicial Council hasn’t been sorted out as the two insist on the names they proposed, the daily said.
Media reports said that a meeting between Aoun and Suleiman under the sponsorship of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at the Baabda Palace lately sought to resolve the dispute over the issue.
The reports revealed that a consensus had emerged t on the name of the candidate who will head the HJC.
Aoun argues that Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, who is loyal to him, should be allowed to name the head of the HJC, while Suleiman insists that the presidency is more qualified “historically” to name the candidate for the head of the HJC.
The source said that the failure to reach common grounds between the two closed the door for any other way out, crumpling the solution of having a rotating presidency for the HJC or seeking to find a common name.
“The Justice Minister is seeking to wrap up the rest of the judicial appointments in order not to leave more vacant posts, especially when the countdown began for General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza’s retirement,” the source added.
However, according to the source, choosing Mirza’s successor after his retirement will not cause a political dispute.
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