Controversy over Constitutional Council Appointments on Hot Fire
The prolonged controversy over the appointments to the Constitutional Council was reportedly nearing an end.
The daily As Safir on Tuesday said the opposition has made up its mind with regards to two or five members yet to be elected.
They are former cabinet minister Assaad Diab, a Shiite, and Greek Orthodox judge Salah Mukhaiber.
President Michel Suleiman, according to As Safir, has recommended Raymond Eid, a Maronite, while Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat is likely to name Druze candidate Suheil Abdel Samad.
It said the Sunni member was left for Prime Minister Fouad Saniora to decide.
The Lebanese Parliament last December elected five members to the Constitutional Council and was yet to elect five others, allowing the highest court to be operational prior to the forthcoming elections.
The Constitutional Council is the only body that has the power to look into complaints related to election fraud and challenging results.
Meanwhile, Al Akhbar newspaper said the issue of the appointments to the Constitutional Council would be tackled during a meeting in Baabda between Suleiman and Saniora.
In a related development, the opposition held an overnight meeting at cabinet minister Mohammed Fneish”s residence in the southern suburbs to discuss details of the council”s appointments.