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.
The deputy head of Kataeb party, Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi stressed that his party will suggest on March 14 forces to choose another candidate for the second round of the presidential elections, after Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea failed to receive the required number of votes during the first round.
“We will propose the nomination of the head of the Kataeb party Amin Gemayel, given that he has been already nominated by his party and he has the right to pursue his candidacy,” Azzi said.
In a statement to
as-Safir Daily, the minister said that March 14 coalition will hold meetings during the upcoming days, in order to set the grounds for the second round of elections.
Member of the Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said that it has become clear that there is a party seeking to hinder the next parliamentary session, without caring whether the country falls into presidential vacuum or not.
“This party went on digging up graves, ignoring the fact that the civil war has ended, an agreement been brokered, an amnesty been issued and a reconciliation been achieved,” he said.
In a statement to
an-Nahar Newspaper, the deputy said that March 14 forces held talks following the parliamentary session and evaluated the course of the elections, noting that further meetings will be held over the upcoming days.
Commenting on Jumblatt’s nomination of MP Henry Helo for the presidential elections, MP Fatfat wondered how the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt would react if a Christian meeting was held to appoint a leader for the Druze community.
National Liberal Party leader Dory Chamoun said that what happened during the parliamentary session was expected, noting that he was not surprised by the results and hoping that a new president will be elected during the second round and within the constitutional deadline.
Chamoun refused to comment on the nomination of Henry Helo, saying that he already knew that MP Walid Jumblatt would not vote in favor of the head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea and he will nominate his own candidate.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria Newspaper, Chamoun said that the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun has the right to run for presidency, while they have the right not to elect him, adding that “it became obvious that the other team does not have enough votes to nominate a candidate, and is attempting to procrastinate the elections.”
Member of the Change and Reform bloc MP Nabil Nicolas told
Acharq al-Awsat Daily that the democratic process witnessed at the Parliament on Wednesday confirmed that the majority of the deputies does not want the head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea as president.
Nicolas said that Geagea must take a lesson from the first round of the elections, noting that his insistence on keeping his candidacy means he is insisting on hindering the presidential elections.
“The head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun refused to engage in a confrontational battle against anyone, this is why he did not submit his candidacy for the first round of the elections,” MP Nicolas stated.