New Confrontation between Majority, Minority Over Judicial Formations
After years of political wrangling, a decree on judicial formations was issued late Friday but the issue seems to be heading towards a new confrontation between Lebanon”s bickering parties.
Newspapers said Saturday the decree was issued after unanimity among members of the Higher Judicial Council. But As Safir daily said several Council members had reservations about the names of some judges.
Social Affairs Minister Mario Aoun of the Free Patriotic Movement criticized the formations, wondering why the decree was issued ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
"This issue will lead to problems. Justice Minister (Ibrahim Najjar) who made the appointments is not neutral. He belongs to a political party that has its political, judiciary and legislative interests," Aoun told As Safir daily in remarks published Saturday.
"These appointments fall in the same context of using money as a weapon," the minister said.
In an apparent retort to Aoun, Najjar told Future News on Saturday that some people rushed to voice reservations about the appointments.
"I also have some reservations but I prioritize the work of judicial institutions," he told the TV station.
The minority considered the appointment of Judge Saqr Saqr government commissioner of the military tribunal as a "reward."
Al-Akhbar daily quoted informed sources as saying that the decree will create a problem with the minority, particularly its Christian members, because the decree gave a bigger role for the Lebanese Forces and other Christian parties in the majority in choosing the names of judges and their posts.
The newspaper also hinted that President Michel Suleiman had played a role in the appointments and immediately signed the decree late Friday.
Premier Fouad Saniora, Defense Minister Elias Murr, Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and Najjar also signed the decree.
Al-Akhbar said that some minority figures see Suleiman”s green light for Saqr”s appointment as a reward for refusing to release the four generals who are in custody since 2005 for suspected involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s assassination.
Saqr was the magistrate probing Hariri”s murder before his new appointment.
Head of the Higher Judicial Council Judge Ghaleb Ghanem said he was glad the decree was issued after three years of standstill.
The bickering over the formations goes back to the term of former President Emile Lahoud who for three years refused to sign the decree.