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.
Lebanese Forces Deputy, Georges Adwan, told
An-Nahar newspaper
that the parliamentary session which will be held on Tuesday is to discuss the
file pertaining to suspending the acceptance of candidature applications for
the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Adwan said that the following file will be discussed
seemingly since Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reported to
President Michel Sleiman the impossibility of holding the elections on their
due date since the electoral supervisory committee has not been formed and
there are no financial means to carry out this duty.
MP Adnwan denied that the session is scheduled to amend the
1960’s electoral law, but to discuss the hybrid law which is based on the
majoritarian system and the law of proportionality.
Chairman of
the Parliament’s Administration and Justice Committee, MP Robert Ghanem, told
An-Nahar
newspaper that suspending the acceptance of candidature applications should be
based on proposing a new electoral draft and setting a new deadline to submit
applications.
MP Ghanem
added that refraining from setting a new deadline disrupts the enforcement of
the current law which may only be annulled by the ratification of a new law.
Ghanem
expressed his support to extending the deadline of submitting candidatures for
a period of less than 60 days.
Caretaker Prime
Minister Najib Mikati said that he will be a candidate for the upcoming
elections and will also participate in the formation of a new electoral law.
Mikati told
As-Safir newspaper that he is
still in a good relation with all political parties adding that House Speaker
Nabih Berri and Hezbollah were really cooperative.
“Although it
was difficult to deal with Minister Gebran Bassil, I cannot deny his productive,
professional and organized work in the Ministry of Energy,” Mikati added.
Mikati
assured that his resignation was related to fears of witnessing any void in the
Internal Security Forces apparatus and mentioned that it created a positive
atmosphere in the country.
Sources close to Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told
Al-Liwaa newspaper that the meeting which was held yesterday in Bkerke was upon
the request of Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai.
In this context, the sources added that Patriarch Rai briefed
Former PM Siniora on the latest issues tackled among Christian officials in
regards to submitting candidature applications on the basis of the 1960’s
electoral law and giving a duration of maximum one month to agree upon a new
electoral law.
Prime Minister Designate Tammam Salam
expressed to
Al-Joumhouria newspaper his relief regarding the positive
atmosphere prevailing in the country and hoped that this atmosphere remains throughout the consultation sessions set to form the new cabinet.
“We should all cooperate in order to form a
new cabinet,” Salam said.
As for his stance regarding the Syrian situation,
Salam told
As-Safir newspaper that he supports the rights of the Syrian people
as well as democracy and the rotation of power by holding elections.
“Officials should sacrifice for the interest
of the people,” Tammam concluded.