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.
Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said on Wednesday that the Free Patriotic Movement’s claims that the work of the presidency has been disrupted since the Taef Accord offend all the standards of national partnership, stressing that FPM leader MP Michel Aoun is hindering the presidential elections to serve Hezbollah.
Fatfat told the Kuwaiti newspaper
Al-Anbaa that MP Aoun would not have rejected the candidacy of Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea as well as all presidential initiatives if he were not working for the benefit of Hezbollah.
Fatfat also mentioned that the Future Bloc is ready to cooperate with all Lebanese factions in a bid to end the presidential deadlock; however, expressed the bloc’s rejection to false allegations and "illogical" initiatives.
The Future movement is proceeding with its preparations for its annual Iftar banquet which will be held on the 18th of July at the Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center (BIEL), taking into account the country’s security situation,
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Wednesday.
In this regard,
Al-Joumhouria mentioned that Future movement officials will be waiting for the speech of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, pointing out that Hariri will deliver a number of positions pertaining to Lebanon’s security situation, presidential vacuum, and the latest terrorist attacks that targeted the country.
Progressive Socialist Party sources stated on Wednesday that discussions pertaining to the extension of the parliament’s mandate are being taken into account, stating that Lebanese factions will be taking a risk if they agree on holding parliamentary elections in light of the country’s security situation.
In this regard, the sources told
As-Safir newspaper that the ongoing disputes between March 8 and March 14 forces will eventually lead to the paralyses of all constitutional institutions, emphasizing the necessity of electing a president at the soonest time possible.
Future bloc MP Atef Majdalani denied on Wednesday talks related to the extension of the parliament’s mandate for a second term, stressing that the decision to hold presidential elections is still the priority of all deputies.
MP Majdalani told
As-Safir newspaper that deputies did not discuss the prorogation of the parliament’s mandate, stressing that Future bloc MPs are adherent to constitutional deadlines.
In the same regard, MP Majdalani emphasized that the Future bloc may discuss the said issue with other political factions if it were necessary to maintain the country’s stability.