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.
Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his optimism over the issue of the presidential elections, without revealing the local and foreign stances he has in this regard, noting that the statement issued by the United Nations Security Council backed the extension of the Parliament’s mandate.
According to al-Joumhouria daily, Berri pointed out that the UN statement also urges the Lebanese political parties to elect a new president the soonest possible, stressing that consensus among the Lebanese rival parties is key in the process of choosing a new president.
On another note, Berri stressed the need to pursue the case of food safety and take necessary legal measures without further scandals.
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour revealed that he will tackle the case of water quality next week, noting that he will target the unlicensed companies and may permanently shut them down, as well as the licensed companies that fail to meet the safety standards.
In a statement to as-Safir daily, Abou Faour said that he will refer the file of the institutions selling corrupt food to the public prosecution, which in turn will issue judicial decisions to prosecute the violators.
In this regard, the minister pointed out that all the political forces expressed their support, adding that MP Walid Jumblatt insisted on reviewing the lab reports before publishing the results.
The head of the National Struggle Front, MP Walid Jumblatt told as-Safir daily that he supports all the parties that fight the mafias nesting within the government, in order to demonstrate to the Lebanese people that reforms still exist in the country.
In this context, MP Jumblatt hailed the initiative of Health Minister Wael Abou Faour in confronting the “mafias of food contamination,” noting that the minister will follow up on this case until the very end.
British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher said that any measures leading to the possibility of holding the presidential elections before the end of the year are welcome.
In a statement to as-Safir newspaper, Fletcher expressed his regret over the presidential vacuum, which has led to extending the mandate of the Parliament, “the members of which were to be punished by the Lebanese people through the parliamentary elections.”
“Lebanon is a democratic country and the failure to give the people the right to elect their deputies by extending the term of the Parliament is disappointing,” he stated.
On another note, Fletcher voiced his concern over the Islamic State’s attempts to cross the Lebanese borders.