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.
Sheikh of the Imam Bilal Bin Rabbah Mosque Ahmad Assir stressed that he will
not hesitate in responding to any call aiming at serving the interest of his
country and his religion, noting that Tripoli youths are blaming him for not
responding to their call. In this context, he promised to respond to the call of
an association in Tripoli.
Commenting on the fact
that he coordinates and prepares for his movements by himself, Assir told
al-Joumhouria daily that he has worked in coordination with Sheikh Salem
al-Rafii, who is considered one of the important sheikhs in Tripoli.
Assir added that he
respects everybody’s opinions, even those who oppose the visit he is expected
to make on Sunday.
Al-Hayat Daily quoted a number of deputies of the majority and the
opposition as saying that the ongoing discussions during the meetings of joint
parliamentary committees concerning a new electoral law in Lebanon have been exposed
to outbidding between head of Change and Reform bloc, MP Michel Aoun and
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. Aoun and Geagea have been seeking an
electoral law whereby the districts are divided in a way that the Christians
could elect their representatives without getting affected by the Muslims’
votes.
According to the deputies, the discussion during the first session of the
joint parliamentary committees on Thursday, may lead the ongoing “electoral abolition
war” between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces, to be
transferred from the Christian street to the Parliament.
The MPs said that Aoun and Geagea are competing to please the Christians,
seeking however to send a message calling for “not wasting the Christians’
votes in the Parliamentary elections expected to be held in spring 2013”.
Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour told
As-Safir Newspaper that the National Struggle Front supports the 60s electoral
law, adding that all the proposed draft laws are not better.
For his part, head of the Future bloc Fouad
Siniora stressed that “he understands the position of the Christians regarding
the electoral law”, noting that he has already informed Patriarch Beshara Rai
that “they are keen on eliminating the obstacles, and refuse to replace them
with another obstacles”, adding that they support the Taef Accord.
“We do not oppose the adoption of the
smaller districts law, but setting up the form and number of these districts requires
long discussions”, he said, pointing that they could be 50 districts, 42 or
even 38 districts.
Also on the electoral law,
An-Nahar Daily cited sources close to the Bkerke meeting’s attendees that the
discussions were focused on both government and March14’s proposals, noting
that every party seemed to be attached to its point on view.
According to the sources,
the FPM and Marada Movement’s representatives said that the smaller districts
proposal does not ensure 56 seats for the Christians, stressing that “the
proportionality law based on 15 districts is a better choice”.
On the other hand, March 14’s
representatives explained their point of view which proves that the project of
the alliance’s Christian powers ensures better representation for the Christian
community.
The Daily quoted the sources
as saying that it has been agreed to conduct a scientific study of three
proposals, the government’s proposal, March 14’s project and the Orthodox
gathering’s proposal. The study will compare all three projects and will focus on
the fair representation, during a series of meetings held in Bkerke.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that the Free Patriotic Movement is
in the process of establishing a committee in charge of evaluating the performance
of its current deputies, as well as the persons aspiring to run in the upcoming
parliamentary elections on the FPM’s lists.
In this context, sources from the FPM stressed that no one
is exempted from the evaluation which will be focusing on the political,
development, service and legislative levels of the deputies.