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.
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan
Charbel told
As-Safir newspaper that he will not bear the responsibility of a
political void in the country, adding that if deputies agree on the 1960
electoral law the ministry will intensify its efforts to hold the upcoming parliamentary
election on the 16th of June.
In this regard, Charbel said that
the caretaker cabinet should convene at the soonest time possible to agree on
the formation of the electoral supervisory committee tasked with overseeing the
elections and appointing its head and members.
- Salam: Political changes may impose
a certain governmental formula
Prime Minister-Designate Tammam
Salam said that he gave parliamentary blocs, the Communications Committee, and
House Speaker Nabih Berri the chance to agree upon an electoral law before
taking any decision in regards to the formation of the cabinet.
Talking to
As-Safir newspaper, Salam
said that he cannot determine his position before the Parliamentary Communications
Committee agrees either on an electoral law or on extending the parliament’s
mandate.
Salam added that he supports a
governmental formula that ensures 8 ministers for March 8, 8 for March 14 and 8
other independent ministers since this formula “guarantees balance in the
cabinet and between political factions”.
“Changes on the political field may
impose a different governmental approach,” Salam concluded.
Future Bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that
the Parliament’s Communications Committee will be dealing today (Monday) with different
scenarios in regards to the electoral law.
According to MP Fatftat, the Committee will either have to
agree on the hybrid draft or on the 1960 law; however, he expressed his
concern that deputies may agree on extending the parliament’s mandate.
Fatfat expressed his worry that deputies will fail to agree on an
electoral law and eventually lead the country toward a political void.
MP Fatfat ruled out the possibility of extending the
parliament’s mandate unless it were a technical extension in order to hold
the upcoming elections this year.
- Sleiman rejects extending the parliament’s
mandate
Al-Hayat newspaper quoted visitors of Lebanese President
Michel Sleiman as saying that the latter will not sign a law that extends the
parliament’s mandate under the pretext of failing to agree upon a new law,
adding that “it is better to hold the elections on the basis of the 1960’s
electoral law”.
In this regard, sources told
Al-Hayat newspaper that members
of the Communications Committee will be waiting for the stance of the Change of
Reform Bloc since its leader MP Michel Aoun has repeatedly voiced rejection for the extension of the parliament’s
mandate.
- General Security apparatus receiving telecommunications’ data
An-Nahar Daily said on Monday that the General Security
apparatus is receiving the telecommunications’ data that it needs upon the
approval of Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Interior Minister Marwan
Charbel.
According to
An-Nahar newspaper, General Security Chief
Major General Abbas Ibrahim sent more than one memorandum to the interior
ministry and received immediate approvals from PM Mikati and Minister Charbel “who
did not take into account the freedom and privacy of citizens”.