Press Digest for Thursday September 26, 2013

      
The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

• President Sleiman adamant on the swift formation of new cabinet- source             

A source close to President Michel Sleiman told As-Safir daily on Thursday that the President's stance to the French newspaper Le Figaro was "misinterpreted," stressing that his statement was not in response to the positions voiced by Speaker Nabih Berri or the speech of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.        

The same source also reported that President Sleiman is adamant on the swift formation of a new government in a bid to face the current challenges.            

"Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam should submit his government line-up to President Sleiman who will examine his proposal and take a stance in this regard," the source added.                 

• Makari: Sleiman and Salam have decided to form a new cabinet soon            

Deputy Speaker Farid Makari stressed that President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam have decided to form a new government the soonest possible, noting that "the March 8 coalition is rejecting the 8-8-8 governmental formula".           

In this context, Makari told the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah Daily that "the March 8 forces benefit most from the failure to form a new cabinet since the caretaker government provides them with the political cover they need".             

Separately, Makari denied he had called for extending the mandate of President Sleiman, adding however that the current circumstances in the country may necessitate the said extension.            

• MP Dib says FPM refuses to take part in unbalanced government             

Change and Reform Bloc MP Hekmat Dib said on Thursday that his bloc alongside the March 8 coalition reject any governmental formula that does not take into consideration the size of parliamentary blocs.            

In this regard, MP Dib told the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah newspaper that his party totally refuses any formula that contradicts the Lebanese constitution and the national charter which call for a fair representation of all political parties in the government.             

• MP Fatfat calls on PM-Designate Salam to form new cabinet             

Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat alongside former minister Tony Karam, dispatched by the Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, held a meeting yesterday with Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam whereby they urged him to expedite the formation of a new government.            

MP Fatfat quoted Salam as saying that he is awaiting the return of President Michel Sleiman from New York in order to pave the way for the cabinet formation.
          
MP Fatfat also told Al-Joumhouria Daily that Sleiman is willing to form a new cabinet, noting that Salam has a huge responsibility in this regard.