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.
Speaker Nabih Berri declared that the political circumstances required to ensure a successful electoral parliamentary session have not been guaranteed yet, noting that there is still time until next Wednesday.
Commenting on reports stating that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri may return to Lebanon to attend the session, Berri told as-Safir Daily that he hopes that these reports are true, and that Hariri will remain in Lebanon indefinitely.
Explaining the course of the presidential elections, Berri stated that if any of the candidates fail to gain two thirds of the votes (given that the quorum needed is 86 deputies), he will call for holding another session, where the candidate who receives half+1 of the votes wins, stressing the need to have a quorum in all the cases.
As-Safir Newspaper cited sources close to the Future Movement as saying that the movement is facing a difficult situation, in terms of dealing with the current status quo, especially that question marks have been raised over the concessions presented by the Future in the favor of the major component of March 8 camp, Hezbollah.
The newspaper noted that the Future movement’s officials justify such a step by saying that “politics is the art of the possible,” stressing that their movement have not presented any concessions, but aimed at reaching a regional and international detente, and disassociating Lebanon from regional conflicts.
In this regard, MP Ammar Houry said that the situation had reached a very dangerous state during the end of last year, when the state failed to control the security situation, noting that the "Future movement had to take the openness of the other team into consideration, in order to save Lebanon."
Sources close to the security meeting held on Thursday at the Baabda Presidential Palace under the chairmanship of President Michel Sleiman, said that the reports presented by the leaders of security and military apparatuses stated the measures implemented in the northern city of Tripoli and the Bekaa, and listed the fugitives who have been arrested and the arrest warrants issues against criminals.
In this regard, well-informed sources told al-Joumhouria Daily that the conferees stressed that 80% of the security plan in the Bekaa have been implemented, adding that completing the plan will require lifting the partisan and tribal cover off the fugitives.
The sources added that, during the meeting, new plans were discussed and will be implemented in the border towns, in an attempt to put an end to the infiltration of gunmen and the smuggling of weapons between Lebanon and Syria.
Sources of al-Liwaa Daily revealed that discussions are underway between March 8 components over the adoption of a new tactic during the parliamentary session set to be held on April 23 to elect a new president, noting that they may nominate Emile Rahme as a presidential candidate to stand against the head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea.
The sources added that March 8 forces will seek to guarantee the votes of Hezbollah and its allies, pointing out that the head of the National Struggle Front Walid Jumblatt may follow the same plan by nominating Henry Helo, so that his allies will vote to his candidate.