Press Digest for Saturday December 29, 2012

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. 

• Mikati: the most compatible electoral law will be adopted                  

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that resuming the work of the sub-parliamentary committee to discuss the electoral law is a positive step and added: "hoping that the committee would reach during its daily meetings an electoral law that best serves all Lebanese parties."                                      

Mikati said to As-Safir that during his meeting yesterday with Speaker Nabih Berri, the latter informed him that he gave directives to the members of the Committee to intensify their meetings and set on their agenda all the electoral draft laws for discussions including the cabinet's draft, that of the Kataeb Party, the LF law which is based on 50 districts, the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering.                               

PM Miktai pointed out that the committee will discuss the pros and cons of every law and added that the most compatible law will be adopted.                     

• Fatfat: March14 forces will participate in the electoral meetings positively                                

MP Ahmad Fatfat said that March14 forces will participate in the meetings of the sub-parliamentary committee related to the electoral law in a positive and democratic way and pointed out that these forces adopt the draft law submitted by the Kataeb Party and the Lebanese Forces.                                     


Fatfat said that these forces are with amending the 1960's electoral law in terms of the electoral districts and moving some deputies from one district to another in order to improve the Christian representation.                      

Fatfat said to Al-Liwaa newspaper that March14 forces reject the law of proportionality due to the lack of its effectiveness in areas controlled by Hezbollah.                     

• Stances related to national dialogue are now clear                    

Sources close to President Michel Sleiman said that the President will take in the first week of January a decision related to the national dialogue.                                               

Sources added to Al-Joumhouria that stances related to dialogue are now clear and nothing will change them.                

• Jumblatt: setting conditions will not yield positive results                  

Head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt said that he was the first to call for dialogue seemingly since it is the only choice to reach solutions.                                      

Jumblatt said to As-Safir that in 2006, Speaker Nabih Berri called for national dialogue and it was the country's only choice for decisions that were took at that time were agreed upon by everyone.              


Jumblatt added that today we are living a critical situation and setting conditions will not yield any positive solutions.                     

• Raad: Sleiman's call for dialogue will be met positively                     

Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc MP Mohammad Raad said that his party will be positive regarding the president's call for national dialogue despite accusations and campaigns against them.                 

MP Raad added to As-Safir newspaper that they are positive because they are convinced that the country's stability is related to dialogue.