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.
- MP Jumblatt: Contacts are blocked with MP Aoun
Head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt said
that contacts are continuous to reach a consensual electoral draft agreed upon
by the majority of political factions.
In this context, Jumblatt told
As-Safir newspaper that the
Future Movement is holding talks with the Lebanese Forces and he is personally
contacting Speaker Nabih Berri.
Jumblatt said that lines of communication with Hezbollah are
open, adding that all contacts with MP Michel Aoun are blocked.
MP Jumblatt added that efforts are being exerted in order to
reach a hybrid law agreed upon by the Future Movement, Amal Movement, and
Hezbollah pointing out that the image will be made clear in the upcoming days.
LF Chief Samir Geagea said that there aren’t any new results
in regards to the electoral law and expressed his concern regarding the Syrian crisis
and its repercussions on Lebanon.
Geagea told
An-Nahar newspaper that Hezbollah’s claims of
fighting against the Al-Nusra Front in Homs in order not to fight against it in
Beirut are not acceptable adding that it’s the duty of the Lebanese state to
fight the Al-Nusra Front or any other extremist group.
“Hezbollah’s interference in Syria is dragging the Al-Nusra
Front into Lebanon,” Geagea said.
Presidential sources told
Al-Liwaa newspaper that President
Michel Sleiman’s consultations regarding the electoral law did not end yet
adding that Former Minister Khalil Hrawi met on Saturday with head of the
Future bloc Fouad Siniora.
Sources added that President Sleiman is exerting efforts to
reach consensus in regards to the hybrid law since this law represents the
majority of the Lebanese people.
The sources denied the fact that President Sleiman, along
with PM Najib Mikati and Head of the NSF MP Walid Jumblatt will withdraw their
ministers if majority ministers voted against the formation of the supervisory
commission for the elections.
As-Safir newspaper quoted Prime Minister Najib Mikati as saying that since the formation of
the Cabinet many have been bidding on its resignation pointing out that this matter
is still a " mere hope for them".
According to
As-Safir,
Mikati said that “the work of the current cabinet does not meet with his
ambitions and aspirations for the country, but he is convinced that maintaining his position as the
Prime Minister of the country safeguards Lebanon's stability".
Mikati added to the newspaper that the cabinet was able to
surpass all difficulties that erupted since its formations.
As for the issue of the Cabinet’s resignation,
the newspaper reported that PM Mikati considers that there is no need to resign
especially under the current circumstances.
Speaker Nabih Berri said
that the time limit to agree upon an electoral law must not exceed April in order
to prepare for the elections before the electoral due date in June.
Berri told
As-Safir
newspaper that he is not in a hurry to call for the General Authority’s meeting
in order to vote on the Orthodox Gathering’s electoral law and added that ministers
of the majority will vote against the supervisory commission for the
elections since it is part of an “already buried law”, he said in reference to the 1960's law.