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.
The Speaker Nabih Berri mentioned
that proposals and projects of electoral law are not related to the
parliamentary elections but instead to the Presidential elections in the year
2014 considering that acknowledging an alternative law for the 60s law is not
going to be easy.
In a talk to
al-Akhbar newspaper, Berri
mentioned that the Presidential electoral campaign of 2014 has begun early this
time. He mentioned that the electoral law competitions related to the Presidential
elections more than the parliamentary elections of the coming year.
Away from the electoral law, Berri
emphasized that he is working on refining the country from provocations and
added: "it seems that some were disturbed from this issue and tried
blocking it by targeting MP Michel Aoun's convoy."
An-Nahar newspaper mentioned that
Minister Fouad Siniora has met on Monday with leaders of March 14 and discussed
with them the electoral law.
Siniora said that discussing the law
was profound and positive.
A meeting was held between LF and Kataeb party while another one was
held between MPs Marwan Hamadeh, Fouad al-Saad, Henry Helou, Antoine Saad, and
MP Sami Gemayel.
- Zahra: The LF electoral law is subject to amendments
Deputy Antoine Zahra mentioned the electoral draft presented by the
Lebanese Forces is still subject to amendments especially that their proposed law
includes basic reform issues.
.
Zahra mentioned to
An-Nahar that
discussions between LF and their allies especially the Kataeb Party, Future
Movement, and other components of March 14 deal with determining the number of
proposed districts between 51 according to the Committee of Bkerke or 61
according to the LF vision.
Zahra concluded that the electoral
formula presented by the LF assures 57 to 60 deputies, while other electoral
laws don't assure more than 53 deputies.
Judicial and legal references mentioned to
Al-Joumhouria
newspaper that the Military Magistrate Riad Abu Ghida's silence in the case of former
minister Michel Samaha throughout
the last and current week shows that he
has sufficient evidence from investigating Samaha and other witnesses including
Major General Jamil Sayyed.
Sources
mentioned that the Military Magistrate is now studying the case in preparation
for issuing the indictment.
Minister of Trade and Finance Nicolas Nahhas mentioned to
Al-Joumhouria that discussions
regarding the series of ranks and salaries are direct talks that must have
great impacts on the course of the series.
Nahhas mentioned that opinions related to the series must be
taken into consideration, evaluated, and incorporated within the framework of acknowledging
the series.