Press Digest for Wednesday May 21, 2014

3^min

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.

EU's Eichhorst says not optimistic about Lebanon's presidential elections

EU Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst said she was not optimistic about the election of a new president in Thursday's parliamentary session.

"If the Lebanese lawmakers fail to elect a new head of state within the constitutional deadline, they should do it shortly afterwards," Eichhorst told Al-Mustaqbal daily on Wednesday.

The Ambassador also noted that the failure to elect a president will entail dangerous consequences on the state's institutions.

"We are concerned about the presence of weapons outside state control. We are discussing this matter with Hezbollah and the group knows our stance in this regard," she added.

Lebanon now entering power vacuum, Jumblatt says

National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt said the Change and Reform bloc's statement does not reveal whether the bloc will participate in Thursday's presidential election session.

"Unfortunately, we have entered a power vacuum starting from now," MP Jumblatt told An-Nahar daily on Wednesday.

On another note, Jumblatt stressed he did not meet with any officials in Paris, noting that he was on a private visit to the French capital.

Speaker Berri voices concern over foreign intervention in presidential elections

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his fear of foreign intervention in the Lebanese presidential elections after the end of the constitutional deadline set for May 25.

Berri was quoted by An-Nahar newspaper as saying that there wasn't any new developments regarding the electoral process, adding that he will call for another session on Friday if quorum is not reached in Thursday's session.

"If ongoing contacts were to yield consensus among the parties, I don't mind holding a parliamentary session before Saturday midnight, the constitutional deadline," Speaker Berri said.

UN's Ban says avoiding power vacuum is key to Lebanon's stability

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hoped the Lebanese lawmakers will be "fully" engaged in a process that guarantees the election of a new president on time.

"Avoiding presidential void is key to Lebanon's stability," Ban said.