Suleiman Reportedly Informs Aoun that he Backs Antoine Daher as HJC Head

President Michel Suleiman has reportedly informed Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun that he would favor Judge Antoine Daher for the post of Higher Judicial Council president.

Hizbullah’s al-Manar TV said Suleiman’s suggestion came during talks with Aoun on Saturday.

According to An Nahar daily on Sunday, the president called Aoun and invited him for lunch.

During their meeting, the two officials discussed the issue of appointments to administrative posts, the electoral draft-law and administrative decentralization, it said.

“Their viewpoints matched,” An Nahar added.

The report came a few days after al-Joumhouria newspaper said that Hizbullah and Aoun have reached an agreement to nominate Judge Tannous Meshleb as their candidate for the presidency of the HJC.

Meshleb is not a member of the FPM, but Aoun is reportedly 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.