Qortbawi Proposes Undisputed Candidate for Head of HJC, Refuses to Reveal Name

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi stressed on Wednesday that his candidate for the head of the Higher Judicial Council is not one of the two names that created controversy among President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“I will not reveal the name of my candidate unless the issue is tackled at the cabinet,” Qortbawi told As Safir newspaper.

Ministers have continuously failed to agree on the head of the Higher Judicial Council as Suleiman and Aoun are at loggerheads over who should be appointed.

The post of the head of the HJC had been vacant for over a year following the retirement of Judge Ghaleb Ghanem.

Ad-Diyar newspaper reported that the cabinet is expected to approve a set of minor appointments during its scheduled session on April 20 or 24.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told As Safir that he is at the final stages of naming the candidates for the vacant posts of governors.

He noted that the appointment of governors only requires Suleiman to sign a decree proposed by the interior minister as it doesn’t require the approval of the cabinet.