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.
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi declared that he signed the draft law pertaining to the partial appointments presented by the Supreme Judicial Council, and that includes 46 judges.
In a statement to an-Nahar daily, Rifi stressed that he will seek to implement justice and to serve the people's interest, expressing optimism regarding the approval of the said draft law, which was referred to Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
Commenting on referring the bomb attacks to the judicial council, Rifi said he proposed this matter during the cabinet session, noting that at least 70 thousand residents of Tripoli signed the petition requesting the referral of the Tripoli blasts case to the judicial council.
On another note, the minister said that the security situation will remain under control in case of a presidential vacuum, pointing out that there is a regional and international cover regarding security in the country.
Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbass revealed that a national consensus was reached by the ministerial committee tasked with searching for a solution to the crisis of the Syrian refugees, to establish camps for these refugees inside the Syrian territories or across the buffer zones.
He added that this issue is pending international approval during negotiations conducted by the United Nations with the Syrian authorities.
In a statement to Acharq al-Awsat newspaper, the minister said that the Syrian crisis has turned into a disaster, urging the Arab states to issue a unified position before the International Community.
In this regard, Derbass explained that Prime Minister Tammam Salam and his accompanying delegation tackled this issue during their recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
Parliamentary sources from the Future bloc said that the presidential elections is a Christian process par excellence, stressing the need to abstain from relying on the results of the regional negotiations, especially the Saudi – Iranian talks.
The same sources denied, in a statement to as-Safir daily, that the head of the Future Movement, former PM Saad Hariri had presented any commitments to the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun, also denying reports stating that Hariri had been awaiting Saudi instructions in this regard.
“The Saudi officials have made it clear that they will never interfere in the Lebanese presidential elections,” the sources added.
Member of the Change and Reform bloc MP Nabil Nicolas said all the politicians must understand that MP Michel Aoun will not stand as a candidate against Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea, “even if he had 70 deputies supporting him, instead of 65.”
In this regard, MP Nicolas told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the Change and Reform bloc will attend the parliamentary session when the Future bloc withdraws Geagea’s candidacy and proposes another candidate.
“The problem does not lie in a certain number of votes, but our bloc cannot accept a president who represents a challenge for any sect in Lebanon,” he said.