House Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that all
parties must spare no effort to agree on an electoral law as soon as possible,
warning that postponing elections would be very dangerous. “Agreeing on an
electoral law and holding parliamentary elections on due time would enable us
to preserve the last manifestations of the democracy we flaunt before the Arab
region and the world,” he said.
Berri told
Al-Joumhouria Daily on Wednesday
that the constitutional amendment draft law related to the Senate proposed by
former Prime Minister Saad Hariri cannot be submitted to Parliament at the
time being; “therefore, the Parliament cannot look into it before March 19.”
On the electoral initiative launched by
Hariri on behalf of the Future Movement, Berri clarified that he will voice his
stance on it as soon as it is ready.
Asked on his opinion regarding the statement
of some Future MPs that Hariri’s initiative guarantees 48 MPs for Christians,
Berri said: "Why don’t we go back to the government’s draft law which provides
Christians with 48 to 50 MPs and is the closest to the Taif agreement?"
Berri reiterated that the task of the
parliamentary sub-committee is limited to the hybrid electoral law which
combines the majoritarian and proportional systems.
- Lebanese
sources: We were informed that 4 Hezbollah members will be accused in Burgas
bombing
Lebanese
official sources told
Al-Akhbar Daily on Wednesday that Bulgaria briefed the Lebanese
authorities on the results of investigations into the Burgas
bombing, pointing out that the Lebanese authorities were previously informed that the
charges will be directed against 4 Hezbollah members.
The sources said
that Lebanese officials were also informed that Bulgaria will
differentiate between Hezbollah’s military wing and the party itself to prevent the latter be listed on the European terrorist list. They denied that any
Lebanese official was given the names of the accused, pointing out that
Bulgaria only called on the Lebanese judiciary to look for the fingerprints of
a person on the Lebanese records.
In contrast,
ministerial sources told Al-Joumhouria Daily Wednesday that Lebanon has not
received any notice from Bulgaria neither through the Interpol nor through any
other body on the content of Bulgaria’s accusations.
The sources
added that this news did not surprise politicians or diplomats since during
his last visit to Bulgaria, President Michel Sleiman and the Prime Minister were
informed of the possible involvement of Hezbollah in the Burgas bombing.
Former PM Saad Hariri considered that the scene in Arsal
portrays the real stance of the town on the LAF; “this was clear when a number
of the town’s young men and children welcomed LAF units deployed in their town,
offering flowers to officers and soldiers while raising Lebanese flags and
singing the national Lebanese anthem.
Hariri told
Al-Hayat Daily on Wednesday that through this
step, Arsal residents wanted to answer those who are betting on a strife
between them and the LAF institution and are throwing “enticing accusations “which
will not be heeded.”
“Those who are betting on a strife must stop feeding it,” he
said, adding that the stance of Arsal’s residents refutes all these fabrications.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported on Wednesday that while the Orthodox
Gathering draft law caused a crisis among March 14 “there has been no separation.”
The Daily pointed out that the meeting held by Kataeb leader
Amine Gemayel and former PM Saad Hariri in Paris on January 29 led to an
understanding to continue with the alliance between Kataeb and the Future
Movement despite their contradicting stances on the electoral law.
The Daily added that as soon as Gemayel arrived in the French
capital, Hariri called him and voiced his willingness to meet with him. Through
their meeting, Hariri uncovered that his distance from Lebanon doubled the
mystery surrounding his relation with his March 14 allies. He also concluded
that the approval of Kataeb and the Lebanese Forces of the Orthodox Gathering’s
proposal has cast doubts on the strength of his alliance with them.