Press Digest for Sunday May 19, 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.

• PM-Designate Salam to form the new government soon        

An-Nahar Daily reported that Prime Minister-Desginate Tammam Salam is inching closer to the formation of the new government within the upcoming days, noting that he is holding consultations with President Michel Sleiman who called yesterday (Saturday) for exerting more efforts in this regard.       

The Newspaper also reported that the steps undertaken by PM-Designate Salam will settle the political deadlock in the Parliament, and will suggest many solutions that will have an impact on the general situation in the country.         

• President Sleiman may petition the extension of Parliament’s mandate        

Sources close to President Michel Sleiman reported that the latter opposes the extension of the Parliament’s mandate unless the extension is for technical reasons and within a short period of time.         

Same sources told an-Nahar Daily that “should the parliament’s mandate be extended, in violation of the ‘convictions’ of the President, Sleiman will stand against it and file a petition”.         

It is worth noting that Sleiman is responsible for the situation in Lebanon and therefore, he takes well-devised stances, pending the final formula to be adopted.        

• MP Hajjar: Hezbollah wants to undermine the Taif agreement        

Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar said that “March 8 coalition is procrastinating in order to disrupt the upcoming parliamentary elections.       

In this context, MP Hajjar told the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah Daily that “Hezbollah and March 8 coalition want an electoral law that serves their personal interests and allows them to take control over the country”, adding that “maybe they are willing to disrupt the elections and to call for a constitutive conference that undermines the constitution and the Taif agreement.      

• UK asks EU leadership to blacklist Hezbollah military wing         

Well-informed French sources reported that the United Kingdom has officially asked the European Union leadership last week to add Hezbollah military wing to the EU terror list, noting that the EU Foreign Ministers are set to discuss the issue during their meeting to be held by the end of May.          

Same sources told al-Hayat Newspaper that France has confirmed information stating that “1500 members of Hezbollah are involved, alongside the Syrian regime, in the battles taking place in Syria”, adding that “the number of gunmen affiliated with Hezbollah is about 4 thousand”.