Press Digest for Saturday March 30, 2013

4^min

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.

Geagea: Holding the elections is our main goal

Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea said that the parliamentary elections are a main goal and stressed that his party wants a cabinet that holds the elections and maintains the economic situation along with the living standards.

In this context, Geagea told Al-Akhbar newspaper that his party wants a neutral prime minister and stressed that consultations are underway between March14 forces.

Mikati: No political cabinet without Hezbollah’s participation

Visitors of outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati quoted him as saying that there were no foreign pressures in regards to the resignation of the cabinet since he was not able to dismiss Hezbollah’s ministers adding that “a political cabinet may not be formed without the participation of Hezbollah”.

The visitors told As-Safir newspaper that Mikati considers his resignation a positive step that had positive repercussions on the political, security, and economic fields.

Sleiman: Maintaining Lebanon’s stability is not easy

Sources close to President Michel Sleiman told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the latter gave political factions enough time in order to begin consultations in regards to the formation of the cabinet adding that he will not name a new prime minister because he will be violating the constitution.

In this context, the newspaper said on Saturday that President Sleiman called on a specialized committee to evaluate the situation seemingly since various factions called for holding dialogue and added that Sleiman rejects dialogue at this stage because “national dialogue is set for specific issues away from the electoral file and the resignation of the cabinet”.

Sleiman was quoted as saying that national dialogue is independent from institutions and does not deal with issues pertaining to the elections or the resignation of the cabinet, but instead; “it deals with strategic issues that need dialogue”.

The President was also quoted as saying that Lebanese factions should manage solving their issues internally and work on holding the elections on their due time since maintaining the internal stability of the country is not easy and is a responsibility on the cabinet, parliament, and all constitutional institutions.

Charbel: Political parties should first agree on an electoral law

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel who is currently in Romania said that political factions should agree on an electoral law then on a date to hold the elections before solving the issue of the cabinet.

Minister Charbel told Al-Liwaa newspaper that following the Easter Holiday, he will be calling for a technical postponement of 3 months in regards to holding the election so political parties agree on an electoral law.

“If a new electoral law was ratified before the 20th of June and a date was set to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections, the caretaker cabinet may supervise the electoral process,” Charbel said.