Press Digest for Sunday March 10, 2013

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.

• Khoury: We cannot hold President Sleiman accountable              

Environment Minister Nazem Khoury said that President Michel Sleiman will not retreat from his stance regarding the formation of a supervisory commission for elections adding that the President is committed to applying the current law since deputies did not agree on another law.             

Khoury told An-Nahar newspaper that electoral preparations are underway and said that deputies should have presented another law to the parliament if they don’t want to hold the elections on the basis of the 1960’s law.         

“No one is adherent to the 1960’s law, but we cannot hold President Sleiman accountable; responsibility also falls on deputies,” Khoury said.                     

Minister Khoury added that President Sleiman will take positions that express his commitment to the constitution and his responsibilities toward the people.
            
Khoury mentioned that Sleiman will be starting his African tour on Tuesday and will get back on the 20th of March adding that he will be chairing a cabinet session on the 21st of March.            

• Shatah: We are seeking common grounds regarding the elections                 

Former Minister Mohammad Shatah said that the draft studied between March14 forces and the progressive Socialist Party is based on negotiation to reach a common ground adding that it aims at mixing the proportional law and the majoritarian system in one electoral law.                             

Shatah told An-Nahar newspaper that this step was not met by a similar one from March8 parties adding that if they stayed on their stances and did not agree on a hybrid law then they don’t have the intention to hold the elections.                           

• Berri: Deputies still have two months to agree on an electoral law                   

Sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that there is still a period of two months to agree on an electoral law.         

The sources added that a new law can be ratified even one day before the end of the two-months-period if deputies agreed on a law.                        

• Speaker Berri’s draft law threatens Siniora’s representation in Sidon          

Parliamentary sources told Al-Hayat newspaper that the electoral draft presented by Speaker Nabih Berri threatens the parliamentary representation of Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Sidon.           

Sources added that Speaker Berri’s draft law intends to increase the popularity and representation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati.