Press Digest for Saturday August 02, 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.

• Abou Faour says all political factions should discuss wage scale

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour stated on Saturday that all political factions should discuss the series of ranks and salaries, expressing his hope that an agreement would be reached to solve this issue.

Minister Abou Faour told An-Nahar newspaper that the Progressive Socialist Party aims at passing a balanced pay scale, adding that the said party is against any step that leads Lebanon into an economic crisis.

In this regard, Abou Faour noted that officials should really study the said dossier, emphasizing that political parties aim at conducting real reforms at the administrative level.

• Patriarch Rai did not call for prolonging Sleiman’s mandate

An-Nahar newspaper stated on Saturday that Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai assured during his meeting with a delegation from the Future Bloc chaired by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that the parliament’s current priority is the election of a new president.

The newspaper added that the patriarch called for the election of a president who is neither affiliated to March 14 forces nor to March 8, stressing that there must be a Christian candidate capable of uniting positions.

An-Nahar also stated that Patriarch Rai had never called for prolonging the mandate of outgoing President Michel Sleiman; however, emphasized that he called for amending article 62 of the constitution which stipulates that Sleiman remains president until the election of a new head of state in order to avoid vacuum at the first presidency.

• Minister Ali Hassan Khalil says meeting with Siniora was not fruitful

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Saturday that Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil informed officials that the meeting with former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora did not yield any fruitful results regarding the series of ranks and salaries.

In this regard, the newspaper noted that developments were not witnessed regarding the said dossier, pointing out that there is no solution for the pay scale issue at the current time.

• MP Majdalani reiterates call for electing new president

MP Attef Majdalani stated on Saturday that the position of the Future Movement is similar to that of Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai regarding the first presidency, pointing out that the parliament’s main priority at the time is the election of a new president.

Majdalani added to Al-Joumhouria newspaper that efforts are being exerted to elect a president during the election session scheduled for the 12th of August.

On another note, Majdalani denounced all acts of terrorism taking place in Iraq, Gaza, and Syria, stressing that these acts aim at striking pluralism in Arab societies.