Press Digest for Saturday April 27, 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.

• Political parties discuss extending the parliament’s mandate          

Al-Akhbar newspaper said on Saturday that consultations between political parties are underway to extend the mandate of the parliament adding that consultations are mainly related to finding a formula that goes beyond the technical extension, but the only condition is agreeing upon an electoral law.             

In this context, sources said that the 1960’s electoral law might be agreed upon after it seemed impossible to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections on the basis of the Orthodox Gathering’s electoral law or the hybrid law.            

The sources added that after agreeing upon an electoral law and extending the mandate of the parliament, a political cabinet that includes representatives of all political parties will be formed.             

• Geagea to put a veto on MP Harb
  

     
Sources close to the Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea said that the latter will put a veto on MP Boutros Harb if March 14 forces discussed his name to become a new president.                

The sources added to the Al-Akhbar newspaper that Geagea said the dispute between him and MP Harb erupted on the backdrop of a file related to the independent deputies in the March 14 coalition.                

• Berri will not call for a general authority session before reaching consensus

           
Sources reported on Saturday that House Speaker Nabih Berri told Head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt that he will not call for another parliamentary subcommittee’s  session if he did not get guarantees related to reaching an agreement adding that he will not hold a general authority session before reaching consensus.          

Sources told Al-Liwaa newspaper that MP Jumblatt discussed with Speaker Berri ideas related to a hybrid electoral draft based 60% on the majoritarian system and 40% on the law of proportionality.           

Other sources said that MP Jumblatt discussed with Berri the electoral draft which is based on the concept of “one man, one vote”.      

In this regard, MP Jumblatt promised to study the two mentioned draft laws within 24 hours since Speaker Berri vowed to hold himself electoral consultations as representatives of political parties are impeding this process.         

• Fatfat: The Change and Reform Bloc along with Hezbollah impeded electoral discussion          

Future Bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said that he does not mind holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri adding that the Change and Reform Bloc along with Hezbollah were behind the “dead-end” reached during the parliamentary subcommittee’s session since their representatives refused to discuss the hybrid law.      

MP Fatfat told Al-Hayat newspaper that “for the subcommittee to hold again its meetings, representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah should give a clear stance regarding the hybrid law”.

• Abou Faour: Our main concern is holding the elections on due time

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour told As-Safir newspaper that he discussed with Speaker Berri various ideas mainly related to the hybrid electoral law adding that these ideas will be studied in order to reach a final agreement.

In this regard, Minister Abou Faour said that the National Struggle Front’s only concern is holding the upcoming elections on due time and respecting constitutional entitlements.