Press digest for Thursday September 08, 2011

4^min

Mikati: Cabinet survived a delicate period

As-Safir daily quoted PM Najib Mikati Thursday as saying that the cabinet has survived a delicate period after the frenzy sparked by the electricity issue, adding the cabinet has achieved a major breakthrough by reaching an agreement on all the items of the draft law, especially the one related to the regulations settlement.

“The cabinet will submit the draft law to the parliament and will defend all its sections so that the parliament would decide on it”, Mikati said, ruling out that the parliament would disavow the citizens’ interests.

Mikati told the daily that discussions are ongoing on several issues, such as the medical, social and elderly security, adding that the cabinet’s major concern is to maintain stability in Lebanon amid the regional tension.

Bassil: Electricity plan approval a victory for the cabinet

As-Safir daily quoted Energy Minister Gebran Bassil as saying that the approval of the electricity draft law is not a victory for the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) alone, or any other particular party within the cabinet, yet a victory for the cabinet itself for having adhered to its statement with regard to the electricity issue and for bringing into effect the slogan it had raised “We are all for work”.

Asked whether the FPM had made fundamental concessions, Bassil said “we care about the draft law content rather than its layout.”

On the other hand, Bassil told an-Nahar daily that “this is not the end, but the beginning of a long journey”, adding that the consensus reached by the ministers was crucial to secure the majority’s consent in the parliament in light of the opposition’s sheer determination to prevent the parliament from reaching a quorum, short-circuiting the electricity plan.

Kheir dismisses proportional representation

An-Nahar daily quoted Former Head of Lebanon's Higher Judicial Council Antoine Kheir Thursday as saying that the adoption of proportional representation in the upcoming election is procedurally and practically impossible if sectarian representation is not abolished first.

“The Lebanese constitution does not specify the electoral system which is determined by amendable laws”, Kheir said, highlighting several articles in the constitution relevant to elections but not centered upon specific electoral systems.

“The Parliament is the legal and constitutional authority in charge of the examination, amendment and decreeing of the electoral laws”, Kheir said, adding the proportional representation is only possible with a closed candidate list in each electoral district.

Erekat: We are determined to win U.N. membership

Acharq al-Awsat daily quoted Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Thursday as saying that the Palestinian authority locked horns with the U.S. over the Palestinian bid to win full membership in the Security Council, describing the move as the correct step both for the Palestinian people and the peace processes.

Erekat said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the official envoy of the quartet Tony Blair and his spokesperson David Hill last Monday who were working tirelessly to change his mind.

Erekat highlighted the Palestinian determination to reach their goal in spite of their efforts.

Bassil-Safadi meet to modify numbers

Al-Liwaa daily quoted ministerial sources Thursday as saying that Energy Minister Gebran Bassil will meet up with Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi today in order to modify certain numbers in the electricity plan before its submission to parliament.