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.
Al-Joumhouria daily reported that Speaker Nabih Berri had
presented a few days ago, during contacts held with different political parties,
a new hybrid draft law on the basis of which half of the parliament’s members
will be elected according to the majoritarian system and the other half
according to the Orthodox proposal.
In this context, the head of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel
Aoun, the Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and the head of the Progressive
Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt have agreed on this proposal which may be
discussed during the general authority’s session scheduled for today (Wednesday).
The newspaper also reported that Berri will delay the session
until the afternoon in case quorum failed to be reached.
However, the daily said that March 8 forces will not agree on the
proposal of the Future Bloc and the Lebanese Forces.
The Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said
that the latest meeting held at Bkerke between the Christian political parties
resulted in an agreement over the suspension of the Orthodox Gathering draft
law and the discussion of a new proposal.
In a statement to
an-Nahar Daily, Geagea noted
that he agreed with Speaker Nabih Berri on the need to pass a new electoral law
during the General Authority session.
Commenting on the Kataeb party’s delay in declaring
its stance, Geagea stressed that “each party is free to make its decision at
the time it deems appropriate,” praising the efforts deployed by the Future
movement in order to reach a solution for the electoral issue. The LF leader also lauded the positions of MP
Michel Aoun which contributed to reaching the positive results.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed that neither he
nor Minister Ahmad Karami will attend the General Authority session dedicated
to discuss the Orthodox Gathering’s electoral draft law.
In a statement to
As-Safir Daily, Mikati added that he will not
be interested in the results of such a session, especially in case legislation
took place in the absence of the Prime Minister, warning of “this dangerous
unprecedented move which will not be accepted regardless of the reasons and
justifications.”
When asked about the step he will be taking if the Orthodox draft
law were passed, Mikati said that “normally, after passing a new law, it must be
referred from the Parliament to the President through the cabinet, in order to
be published in the official gazette; therefore, he started consulting a number
of legal experts to examine the steps he could be adopting in respect of the powers
granted by the Constitution,” adding that he is more likely to abstain from signing the referral of the law.
Sources close to the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam told
al-Hayat Daily that the latter expressed to the President Michel Sleiman his
determination to form a cabinet as soon as possible, noting that he will neither
wait two or three months nor will he resign.
The sources added that Salam told the President that he
presented many concessions to March 8 forces, mainly the fact that he proposed
to grant them the Ministry of Finance, pointing out that in case the Shiite and March 8 Ministers resigned, he will stand by them and present the
resignation of the whole cabinet.
On the other hand, the same sources noted that Salam has not yet
announced his position regarding his participation in the General Authority
session.
Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that all the political parties
are required to act wisely and to reach common grounds during the session of
the General Authority.
Berri told
as-Safir daily that positive results and solutions
for the electoral issues must appear before the 19th of May.