Press Digest for Sunday June 08, 2014

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.

• Geagea to present presidential initiative in upcoming days - sources

Sources reported to An-Nahar newspaper on Sunday that Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea will present in the upcoming days an initiative to resolve the issue of the presidential elections, adding that the latter aims at reviving the Bkerke National Charter that was subject to various campaigns on the backdrop of Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai’s visit to the Holy Land.

Meanwhile, Bkerke sources told the newspaper that Patriarch Rai will reiterate the call for the election of a president, stressing that Lebanese officials should act in a rational and responsible manner when tackling this issue.

• MP Youssef says Future Bloc keen on funding new wage hike

MP Ghazi Youssef stated on Sunday that the Future Bloc is keen on insuring sources to fund the series of ranks and salaries, stressing that Lebanese officials should sound the alarm over the latest budget plan prepared by Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

In this regard, MP Youssef told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the budget plan did not include the wage hike, emphasizing that March 14 forces have not yet reached a decision pertaining to their participation in Tuesday’s parliamentary session.

• Bou Saab: Fate of students should not be linked to that of pay scale

Education Minister Elias Bou Saab stated on Sunday that he is exerting efforts to find a solution for the issue of the pay scale, stressing that he proposed various suggestions during his meeting with former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Bou Saab told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that a meeting is expected to be held with Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil before the parliamentary session scheduled to discuss the pay scale, adding that the Change and Reform bloc will participate in Tuesday’s session.

Bou Saab also mentioned that the fate of students should not be linked to that of the wage hike, stressing that he has various plans pertaining to the observation and correction of official exams.