Ad-Diyar

Sleiman: For an electoral law that allows renewal, 1960 [law] does not guarantee accurate representation

The local scene is crowded with outstanding issues such as the new electoral law, salaries, appointments and the issue of Al-Qaeda's presence in the country. However, no solutions have been forthcoming to these issues while the region goes through exceptional times and big changes are expected that demand the local scene be safeguarded.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss various domestic issues today. In a notable position, President Michel Sleiman urged for the implementation of a new electoral law that allows Lebanon and Lebanese to move forward with their consensus-based democracy, which differentiates the country’s political system from others.

He said the current law dates back to 1960 and does not complement coexistence and the spirit of the national covenant.

He also said that any attempt to implement a new electoral law should abide by certain principles such as equal participation of sects, fairness and co-existence.

As-Safir

Transportation allowance ... stalls [agreement] on salaries [hike]

On the eve of the strongest storm to hit [Lebanon] this year, domestic issues piled up beginning with the issue of the presence of Al-Qaeda [in the country] that has been moved to Parliament and the wage hike that hasn't seen any developments for two months now and which holds little hope of a solution in the near future.

The issue of salaries will not be discussed in Cabinet Tuesday, awaiting the end of consultations based on the idea of "no winner: no loser."

The first sign of these consultations were seen with the meeting that took place Monday between representatives of the private sector and the General Labor Confederation with the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun. The meeting left a positive feeling among political figures and it was followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas is also expected to hold a similar meeting with the delegations.

An-Nahar

Consultations between officials to unite stances during Ban Ki-moon's visit

Despite the fact that governmental, business, and parliamentary figures were busy dealing with the issue of salaries and the security on the border with Syria, another issue surfaced involving preparations to meet with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to Beirut at the end of this week.

Sources told An-Nahar that efforts and consultations are under way between a number of officials and political parties, primarily within Hezbollah, which have repeatedly expressed their negative stance toward Ban's visit to Beirut, in order to agree on Lebanon's position regarding main issues that might be discussed between Lebanese officials and Ban. This, consequently, can contain any differences among politicians that might weaken Lebanon's position.

The sources also said that what Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said about bringing up the issue of oil exploration with Ban represented the main point that will be under discussion between officials. The discussion will also touch upon extending the protocol governing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that Ban has to consult with the Lebanese government about. There is also the issue of Lebanon's border with Israel and possible repercussions on Lebanon as a result of events in Syria.

Al-Mustaqbal

Ghosn denies his remarks on Al-Qaeda in front of the Defense Committee

The issue of salaries has become blurry again in light of MP Michel Aoun's bellicose rhetoric and his tireless attempts to politicize a subject dealing people’s livelihoods despite the fact that there was a preliminary agreement based on the consensus reached at Baabda Palace.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary defense committee was questioning Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn over his remarks about Al-Qaeda. What was noticeable was Ghosn's attempts to distance himself from what he said, speaking on smuggling operations rather than a real presence of members of Al-Qaeda in the country. [Ghosn's] position prompted one MP to ask: "Is it reasonable for smuggling to become terrorism? And, why were some areas accused of terrorism knowing that smuggling involves various areas? So what is the point of targeting Arsal specifically?

Sources told Al-Mustaqbal about the meeting between representatives from the private sector and labor unions with MP Michel Aoun, saying that the latter's stance did not reflect the positive atmosphere which dominated the meeting in which all parties reaffirmed the agreement between the private sector and labor unions and the need to preserve the understanding between both sectors.