Press Digest for Wednesday December 25, 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.

• MP Ghanem says political division is disrupting parliament’s work
  

Head of Lebanon's Justice and Administration parliamentary commission, MP Robert Ghanem said on Wednesday disrupting the parliament’s work is related to the political division in the country.                  

MP Ghanem told An-Nahar newspaper that the parliament has the right to convene and ratify laws except laws that were referred to the parliament from the cabinet since it is a caretaker government.             

• MP Harb rules out possibility of forming new cabinet before 2014                          

MP Boutros Harb ruled out on Wednesday the possibility of forming a new cabinet before the new year, urging those who are calling on Lebanese President Michel Sleiman not to form a de facto cabinet to facilitate his task in order to form another cabinet.                          

In the same regard, MP Harb addressed via Al-Joumhouria newspaper Hezbollah, asking the party to stay away from setting conditions and leave the formation of the cabinet to Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam, and President Sleiman.                                         

• Patriarch Rai says presidential void "red line" that should not be crossed- Sources                             

Sources close to Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai told An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that Patriarch Rai considers "void at the presidential level as a red line that should not be crossed."       

The same sources quoted Patriarch Rai as saying that Lebanese factions should not wait until the 25th of March to agree on a new president since time is running out and it’s unacceptable that Lebanese parties face a reality they do not initially agree on.                 

• Sleiman still hopeful that Lebanese factions agree on governmental formula

Visitors of Lebanese President Michel Sleiman quoted him as saying that he is adherent to the formation of a cabinet before reaching the constitutional deadline to elect a new President for the Republic.     

The visitors told Al-Liwaa newspaper that President Sleiman along with Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam were willing to form the cabinet before the holidays; however decided to delay the formation.         

The visitors also noted that President Sleiman is still hopeful that Lebanese parties facilitate the formation of a political cabinet that garners the support of all factions and the parliament.