Report: Hizbullah, FPM Agree on Tannous Meshleb as Candidate to Head HJC

Hizbullah and the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Michel Aoun, have reached an agreement to nominate Judge Tannous Meshleb as their candidate for the presidency of the Higher Judicial Council, al-Joumhouria daily reported Thursday.

The appointment of the head of the HJC will be discussed during upcoming cabinet sessions.

The report came a day after sources said that a meeting was held lately between Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Jebran Bassil, and the aide of the Hizbullah chief, Hussein Khalil, to set the stage for talks between leaders of the March 8 coalition.

Bassil told As Safir daily that “the meeting launched a new path of coordination and cooperation,” saying the FPM’s allies, Hizbullah and Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal movement, have agreed on the basic demands of the FPM, including the name of the HJC president.

Meshleb is not a member of the FPM, but Aoun is backing him for the post after Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, who is among the FPM chief’s share of ministers in the cabinet, nominated him.

Alice Shabtini, the head of the Military Appeal Court, is another candidate for the post.

Last week, she along with other members of the court ordered the release of four members from the al-Alam family who had been handed between five and 15-year sentences for collaborating with Israel.

The move drew strong criticism from Hizbullah but Aoun refused to verbally attack her saying it was up to the judiciary to deal with the issue.