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.
Sources close to Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that the PM
will wait a few days before signing the decree calling on the electoral bodies
to hold the elections on the 9th of June, according to the 60s law which
is currently in effect, and amended during Doha agreement in 2008. Mikati’s
decision came in an attempt to give rival parties time to continue their contacts
in order to reach a way out of the ongoing debate and agree on a new electoral
law.
The sources told
al-Hayat Daily that Mikati and President
Michel Sleiman’s decision to sign the decree is constitutional, not political,
as they are constitutionally binding by signing it. The sources added that this
decree must be signed by the PM then referred to the President to sign it at
least 60 days before the date of the elections, otherwise he will be violating
his constitutional obligations, stressing that Mikati is against the 60s law
and considers it as a root of the country’s problems.
For his part, Mikati told the newspaper that he will be
signing the decree before March 9, noting that the parties still have time to
agree on an alternative electoral law.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said that the things are
taking a non-reassuring course regarding the electoral law, noting that a “dangerous
crisis could harm the country’s stability and the whole system.”
In an interview with
al-Hayat Daily, Geagea stressed that “if
some parties thought that we will stand before the wall of the 60s law, so that
the elections will be held based on it, they are wrong,” adding that the
ministerial majority will not take the required measures to hold the elections
according to this law.
In this context, Geagea called for finalizing the electoral law
issue and approving one of the proposals put under discussions, like the hybrid
law proposed by Speaker Nabih Berri, or the LF proposal, warning, on the other
hand, against a potential general paralysis in the Lebanese system should the
current impasse last longer. He called on all parties to assume their responsibilities
to solve the problem.
Head of private school teachers association Nehme Mahfoud told
an-Nahar Newspaper that general assemblies will be held
on Sunday to change the movement’s approach, so that the students will go back
to school.
Mahfoud noted that the
protesters will continue holding sit-ins everyday afternoon, for a period of
three weeks, after President Michel Sleiman promised them that the issue of the
ranks and salaries series will be discussed during the cabinet session as soon
as he returns from his upcoming African tour.
In this context, Mahfoud said
that this decision was taken to preserve the best interest of the students, and
to prevent them from losing their whole academic year.
National Liberal Party leader MP Dori Chamoun stated that Hezbollah is still seeking to establish an
Islamic Republic in Lebanon, pointing out that the Lebanese people are concerned
about the absence of the state and they fear the use of the illegal arms.
In a statement to
al-Anbaa
Newspaper, Chamoun said that the Orthodox Gathering draft law “is a project
aiming at destroying Lebanon,” noting that Hezbollah’s involvement in the
fighting in Syria was an implementation of an Iranian demand to support the
Syrian regime.
On the local level, Chamoun
ruled out any possible “explosion on the local scene,” stressing that all those
who have weapons are well aware that they will lose at the end.
Accordingly, he called on
everyone to work for the Lebanese national interest only.