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.
Prime Minister-Designate Tammam
Salam did not head to al-Nejmeh Square in order to participate in the General
Authority session, citing that he is still a PM-Designate and opposes the Orthodox
Gathering draft law.
In this context, Salam told
Al-Liwaa Daily that he will not take
any action before the results of the meetings held in al-Nejmeh Square are made available,
stressing the need to adopt a fair electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary
elections.
Al-Akhbar Newspaper
reported that residents in Chouf and Deir El Qamar will stage on Friday a
peaceful demonstration outside the house of Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan in
Deir El Qamar.
In the details,
the families will stage a sit-in in order to express their outrage since the Orthodox
Gathering draft law had not been adopted.
The said
families also pointed out that "MP Adwan looked into alternative proposals
that prevent Christians in Chouf from being fairly represented."
Sources close
to the Parliamentary Communications Committee told
Al-Akhbar Daily that a
dispute flared between Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan and Kataeb Party's
Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel during the meeting held late on
Wednesday, after MP Gemayel opposed the division of districts apparent in the hybrid law proposal since "it
lacks clear standards".
For his part,
Speaker Nabih Berri, who presided over the session, pointed out that he supports
the adoption of a new draft law that would encompass both the Orthodox
Gathering draft law and the 1960 electoral law, highlighting the need to broker
a solution in this regard.
Same sources
reported that the Free Patriotic Movement remarked on the March 14 proposal in
terms of dividing districts. This as Hezbollah opposed the distribution of seats in the aforementioned proposal.
As for MP
Adwan, he promised to discuss the remarks during the meeting of
the Parliamentary Communications Committee to be held today (Thursday).
Change and Reform bloc MP Ziad Aswad told
Asharq
Al-Awsat Newspaper that the 'other bloc', he said in reference to the Lebanese Forces party, aims at achieving personal interests at
the expense of the rights of Christians, adding that "the traitors are those
who backtracked on supporting the Orthodox Gathering draft law after having promised its discussion, regardless of the standpoints of other parties."
In this regard, MP Aswad accused Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea of "treason" in regards to the rights of Christians, stressing
that "any electoral law that prioritizes an issue on the detriment of
another is out of the question".