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.
An-Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday that Kataeb Party Leader Amine Gemayel will visit in the upcoming 48 hours Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea, Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun, and Marada Party Leader MP Sleiman Franjieh in a bid to discuss with them the presidential entitlement.
In this regard, Gemayel stressed during Monday’s national dialogue session the necessity of respecting constitutional deadlines, emphasizing that the Bkerke National Charter unites all Christian factions.
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday that Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai suggested before heading to the Vatican the names of various candidates for the presidential elections.
According to the newspaper, Patriarch Rai submitted the names of former Ministers Ziad Baroud, Demianos Kattar, and Roger Dib; however, Lebanese factions who met with Patriarch Rai did not support any of the said figures.
In this regard, the newspaper mentioned that Patriarch Rai suggested amending the constitution and extending the mandate of Lebanese President Michel Sleiman for one year in order to avoid vacuum at the presidential level.
Al-Akhbar newspaper said that Lebanese officials who met Rai expressed their total rejection to extending Sleiman’s term, adding that Rai is still adherent to his proposal.
House Speaker Nabih Berri told
As-Safir newspaper that he granted the Ministry of Finance and the Union Coordinating Committee 48 hours to deliver their remarks on the final report issued by the parliamentary committee tasked with studying the series of ranks and salaries.
In this regard, Berri noted that he is keen on passing the new wage scale; however, refused to call for a General Authority session before studying the content of the report seemingly since some parliamentary blocs did not attend discussions pertaining to the new wage hike.
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil told
As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that the ministry is studying the report pertaining to the series of ranks and salaries and will be comparing it to previous reports to pinpoint amendments made by the parliamentary committee that studied the new wage hike.
In the same regard, Head of the Union Coordinating Committee Hanna Gharib told
As-Safir newspaper that the report of the parliamentary committee is similar to a declaration of war, pointing out that it aims to liquidate the public sector.