Press Digest for Wednesday May 14, 2014

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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.

Berri: Some parties attempting to waste time until May 25

Speaker Nabih Berri declared that there were no new developments concerning the issue of the presidential elections, noting that discussions are underway between the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun and former PM Saad Hariri.

In this regard, an-Nahar daily quoted Berri as saying that some parties are attempting to waste time until after May 25th, in a bid to lead foreign powers to intervene, pointing out that Saudi Arabia, Iran, the US and European countries have stressed the need to hold the elections as scheduled, without voicing support to any particular candidate.

In the same context, sources close to Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said that the latter tackled the presidential elections with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal in Riyadh, noting that he is set to return later today to Lebanon to meet with US ambassador David Hale.

Hariri to intensify meetings in Paris – Sources

An-Nahar newspaper reported on Wednesday that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will intensify his meetings in the French capital during the upcoming days, in a bid to find a solution for the presidential issue and prevent a power vacuum.

On Tuesday, March 14 leaders held a meeting in Beirut, in preparation for the parliamentary sessions dedicated for the discussion of the series of ranks and salaries, and for the election of a new president.

Regarding the pay scale issue, the March 14 officials stressed that this matter will be handled through a positive approach, noting that they are keen on ensuring quorum in order to hold the elections.

Future Movement to support term extension for President Sleiman – Sources

The Future Movement may adopt the proposal of extending the mandate of President Michel Sleiman in an attempt to exert pressure on the political parties to hold the presidential elections within the constitutional deadlines, while Speaker Nabih Berri is still awaiting the outcome of the negotiations conducted between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Future Movement, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.

In this context, March 14 sources told the daily that the coalition is considering voicing its support for the mandate extension, or for the new proposal, which suggests that Sleiman remains in office as “caretaker president” until the election of a new president and in order to prevent vacuum.

Saudi, French foreign ministers hold meeting, stress need to hold presidential elections on time - sources

Al-Hayat newspaper reported that a meeting was held last week in Paris between the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and his French counterpart Laurent Fabius, whereby they tackled the situation in the Middle Eastern region and in Lebanon.

In this regard, well-informed sources revealed that Saud al-Faisal and Fabius agreed on intensifying their efforts to help the Lebanese officials hold the presidential elections before May 25th to prevent vacuum.