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.
House Speaker Nabih Berri stated on Friday that political factions did not discuss with him prolonging the mandate of parliament, stressing that the country’s current priority is the election of a new president.
In this regard, Berri told
An-Nahar newspaper that he assured Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai that holding various electoral sessions without ensuring quorum does not end the presidential deadlock, stressing the necessity of imposing internal pressures on Lebanese factions in a bid to elect a president.
On another note, Berri expressed his adherence to his position regarding the series of ranks and salaries, emphasizing that he is against increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) even by a mere 1%.
MP Assem Qanso said on Friday that the issue of presidential vacuum will not be resolved soon, stating that “Lebanon is not a priority for the United States at the time being.”
Qanso called via
Al-Joumhouria newspaper for the election of a president who is neither affiliated to March 8 nor to the March 14 forces.
Qanso expressed his fear that officials will prolong the mandate of parliament since they will not be able to hold the parliamentary elections on due date.
On another note, MP Qanso said that members from the Islamic State (formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) are deployed at the Lebanese borders from Arsal to Toufayl, stressing that members from Hezbollah are exerting their efforts to maintain the situation in the said region.
Education Minister Elias Bou Saab stated on Friday that there are no new updates regarding the series of ranks and salaries due to conflicts between the Future bloc and other political factions.
In this regard, Bou Saab pointed out to
Al-Liwaa newspaper that former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is insisting on increasing the Value Added Tax to fund the pay scale.
He also emphasized that political measures will not lead to a solution for the said dossier, stating that the initiatives that he discussed were all related to the correction of official exams.
Lebanese Forces MP Gearges Adwan stated on Friday that only Lebanese authorities are able to protect Christians, minorities, and all other Lebanese citizens from the threat of the Islamic State and other extremist groups.
Adwan told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that denouncing incidents taking place in Iraq is not sufficient, stressing that a vast solution should be found for the situation in the said country.
On the Lebanese presidential deadlock, MP Adwan stated that the alliance between the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah is hindering the election of a new president, adding that nominating a new candidate from the March 14 camp will not end the deadlock since the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will not agree on a candidate other than FPM leader MP Michel Aoun.