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.
Change and Reform bloc MP
Alain Aoun stressed, in a statement to
al-Joumhouria Daily that the proposal
presented by former Minister Khalil al-Hrawi to Speaker Nabih Berri did not
obtain consensus and was rejected, noting that there are no new proposals to be
discussed.
“The Orthodox draft law
became a reality”, he added.
In this context, Future bloc
MP Ahmad Fatfat noted that Berri had promised the Future Bloc leader Fouad Siniora that he will not
open the vote on the Orthodox draft law, but instead will discuss other proposals.
However, Fatfat told
As-Safir Daily that the Future movement is convinced that Berri’s step comes
within a decision aiming at adopting this law.
MP George Adwan stressed
that the Lebanese Forces are deploying every effort to reach consensus over a
new electoral law that preserves stability and represents all the Lebanese factions,
noting that his party is conducting intensive discussions in all directions
to fulfill this goal.
In an interview with
an-Nahar Newspaper, Adwan stressed the need to hold the elections on time,
pointing out that the March 14 alliance is still united and is stronger than the
differences emerging over the electoral law.
On the other hand, the
newspaper reported that meetings are being held away from the media between
March 14 parties to follow up on the issue of the electoral law, as well as on
the case of the threat launched by the Free Syrian Army to hit Hezbollah in
Lebanon.
Deputy Speaker Farid Makari said that the head of the Change and
Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun has become the leader of the Maronites par
excellence, after the Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea voted in favor of the draft law presented by MPs Alain Aoun and
Neemtallah Abi Nasr.
Makari told
an-Nahar daily that Aoun did not become a leader
of the Christians, because the situation is different in the Orthodox and
Catholic communities.
- Gasoline prices to reach 39
thousand LBP
Sources following up on the
oil sector predicted that the prices of oil derivatives will continue to rise throughout the three upcoming weeks, stressing that gasoline prices will
reach 39 thousand LBP.
The sources reported to
al-Joumhouria that the price of gasoline is expected to increase by 600 LBP and
400 LBP respectively in the weeks to come, noting that there is no information
on whether or not the price will reach 40 thousand LBP.
The same sources explained
that fuel prices in Lebanon are affected by the world prices which are
currently witnessing a constant increase.