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.
National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt
told
As-Safir daily that the reaction of Change and Reform bloc leader MP
Michel Aoun to the parliament’s endorsement of the tenure-related law is “consistent
with his history which was and will remain absurd”.
In a statement to
an-Nahar daily, well-informed
sources commenting on the EDL issue, said that the number of the company’s
contract workers is estimated at 1780 while the number of collectors ranges
between 720 and 730.
Asked about the additional cost that will be inflicted on the EDL, the
sources said that the annual cost of each 100 workers will be 45 billion LBP,
in addition to termination indemnities and other financial benefits. Accordingly,
the total annual cost that will be sustained by the company after granting
tenure to 2,500 workers might reach 140 billion LBP, the sources explained.
As-Safir Daily reported that the EDL-related law has
reshuffled the political cards, prompting some to say that the events witnessed
during the recent parliament session were reminiscent of the famous four-party
alliance.
This
alliance was manifested in the alignment between the Future bloc, Hezbollah,
Amal Movement and the PSP and their common support of the law which was, on the
other hand, opposed by the Christian bloc, in contravention of the March 8 and
14 traditional equations.
The daily added that Change and Reform bloc leader
MP Michel Aoun’s insinuation of the aforementioned events could give birth to
new political circumstances with the Resistance option placed aside. This in turn will reflect
the “piled-up tension running through the General’s veins” and raise questions
on the fate of the Shiite-FPM alliance.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that, the disputes that
prevailed over the Cairo summit prevented an agreement between the Syrian
opposition members as the Arab League corridors witnessed altercations that turned
into hand-to-hand clashes and led to the withdrawal of some members.
The daily added that the meeting was expected to
reach a unifying formula, endorsed by the Arab League and Western countries, to
facilitate the transitional process that was approved during the Geneva conference.
However, the differences, which lasted until late hours, disappointed the Arabs
and Westerners amid the prevailing atmosphere that impeded the issuance of a
final statement.
Ministerial sources revealed to
Al-Liwaa Daily that
PM Najib Mikati will travel to Germany on Wednesday to meet with German
chancellor Angela Merkel.
The sources added that, after his return, Mikati
might call for a cabinet session next week in light of ongoing contacts.