FRI 29 - 3 - 2024
 
Date: Jun 8, 2011
Source: The Daily Star
Lebanon's Arabic press digest - June 8, 2011

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Wednesday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.


An-Nahar: New majority is minority … Sleiman, Hariri agree on extraordinary Cabinet session
Was Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s call for a general legislative session at Parliament aimed, intentionally or unintentionally, at dispersing the new majority (Hebzollah-led March 8 political camp)?
Whatever answers Berri is going to offer Wednesday at a press conference to be held in Nijmeh Square after failure to provide a quorum for the parliamentary session, the result is that the new majority has become a minority as created by parliamentary elections in 2009.
 
An-Nahar has learned that a proposal by both President Michel Sleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri to hold an extraordinary Cabinet meeting to renew Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh’s mandate which expires in July is being developed.


As-Safir: New majority stands test of legislative session quorum … meeting dependent on Jumblatt
A legislative session scheduled for Wednesday has partially shifted attention from the government formation process amid Berri’s insistence to hold the parliamentary meeting and commitment by the March 14 political camp to reject participation. While Jumblatt, once again through his parliamentary bloc votes, is expected to tip the balance which would determine the fate of the session.


While Jumblatt could not be contacted for comment, speculations varied with some suggesting he would abstain from attending Wednesday’s session to avoid fueling tension and the rift in the country. Other sources predicted he would take part in the meeting to secure a quorum thus allowing the extension of Salameh’s mandate.


Al-Mustaqbal: Aoun “forms” government, wants Sleiman, Mikati to sign it
Between a Parliament that functions depending on Berri’s time parameter and government formation, the March 8 camp goes into the unknown.
While March 8 does not seem to have kept room for wisdom or logic, Berri goes ahead with a parliamentary session Wednesday without a quorum to increase the rift and carry out an unprecedented measure by violating the Constitution and principle of coexistence.


Al-Mustaqbal has learned that Mikati received new demands from Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun – demands that he wants both the Energy and Telecoms ministries and the reappointment of caretaker ministers Jibran Bassil and Charbel Nahhas. Aoun also demanded that he get all the Christian ministries, in addition to vetoing the possibility that Sleiman picks his own ministers from the Jbeil-Kesrouan district.
Political sources said Aoun’s move was tantamount to a “Cabinet lineup ready for Sleiman and Mikati’s approval.”


Ad-Diyar: Mikati sources: What remains for the president and the prime minister if Aoun presents Cabinet lineup?
Berri reiterated his position in remarks to Ad-Diyar that he is going ahead with Wednesday’s legislative session.
In response to a question, Berri denied there was a compromise to the controversial legislative meeting.
On the government formation process, each side remained steadfast and unflinching on its position.
Sources close to the prime minister-designate told Ad-Diyar that Aoun wants to put the ball in Mikati’s court. “What will be left for the president and the prime minister if Aoun draws up a Cabinet lineup?” asked the source.


Al-Akhbar: Aoun: Mikati does not want to form a government
A legislative session will convene Wednesday upon Berri’s request, but securing a quorum will be difficult. And if a quorum was secured, it would be a unbalanced, sectarian quorum that will force Berri to adjourn the meeting.
On the Cabinet formation process, Al-Akhbar learned from the Change and Reform bloc that Aoun told his bloc during Tuesday’s meeting that Mikati does not want to form a government.


Al-Joumhouria: Lack of quorum to cancel today’s legislative session
Parliamentary sources told Al-Joumhouria that Berri will call another legislative meeting for June 15 or June 22 and so on in the wake of failure to secure a quorum.

 



 
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