Introduction to the evening news 24-03-2012

The wave of demands is heating up with remarkable speed; the GLC set May 3rd as the date for a general strike in a wide range of public institutions, independent organizations and private businesses.       

The Syndicate of Hospitals in Lebanon announced that it will stop accepting approvals by the Social Security Fund starting April 30, until the demands set forth by the syndicate are approved and executed.        

All these issues will be at the core of the cabinet session tomorrow, along with the issues of living conditions and overseas voting. On the eve of the session, and in response to the statement made by President Sleiman during his visit to Australia, General Michel Aoun asked: Why is the president so adamant to accomplishing things beyond his prerogatives while he refuses to carry out his own prerogatives? Why doesn’t he implement article 52 which is his prerogative?        

The surprising development today was the presence of MP Walid Jumblatt in Saudi Arabia; according to the PSP’s report of the visit, “the party leader went to Saudi Arabia on a personal visit; he was hosted by MP Neeme Tohme. During the visit, he met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in the presence of his son Taymour Jumblatt and MP Tohme.”        

MP Jumblatt travelled from Jeddah to Riyad and is set to return to Beirut tonight.