QUEBEC — Quebec Premier Jean Charest met face-to-face with his former justice minister in court on Wednesday after months of public sparring over allegations of political cronyism in the appointment of judges.

Charest said he shook hands with Marc Bellemare earlier in the day but could not do so again when the five-hour proceedings wrapped up because Bellemare had already left the building.

Bellemare told reporters earlier that it was the first time he had seen Charest in some time and that there is no tension between them.

"It's going well," said Bellemare, who was justice minister for a year until April 2004.

The Quebec premier came to testify in his $700,000 defamation case against the former member of his cabinet.

The premier answered lawyers' questions behind closed doors. Charest has sued his ex-justice minister for suggesting that Quebec Liberal party fundraisers influenced judicial appointments in the province.

Bellemare alleges Liberal party fundraisers would pick the people they wanted as judges, and that the government would bend to their demands.

He says he tried raising his concerns with Charest and was ignored. Charest has responded by calling a public inquiry and by suing Bellemare.

In an uncommon scene, Charest arrived at the courthouse without his usual entourage, striding across the parking lot by himself and joking that he felt like he was on vacation.

Charest answered questions from Bellemare's counsel Wednesday, in private and without a judge present. A transcript of the testimony could be released eventually, but only when the trial starts.

"I'm being very open," Charest told reporters on his way in.

"Mr. Bellemare has the right to invite me to come and answer questions, which I'm doing in good faith."

He said during a lunch break the proceedings went "well," adding in passing that Bellemare was represented by two lawyers and a trainee.

"I'm not going to talk about what is happening inside," Charest said. "I just want to say it's going very well."

Bellemare has until Sept. 3 to state his case. He will then be questioned by Charest's lawyer, Andre Ryan, before Oct. 15.