The Free Patriotic Movement chief, Michel Aoun, will send an aide to hold a meeting with head of al-Mustaqbal movement Saad Hariri to know his final answer regarding his run for the presidency.
Sources close to Aoun said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that Aoun will task his aide to hold talks with Hariri within a period of three weeks maximum.
Full StorySpeaker Nabih Berri, who returned from his private visit to Italy, is expected on Tuesday to revive the consultations on two parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president and approving the public sector wage scale.
An Nahar newspaper said that the sessions are to be reminiscent of their predecessors.
Full StoryPrime Minister Tammam Salam reiterated on Sunday that the country is passing through “extraordinary” circumstances capped with a vacancy at the helm of the country's top Christian post.
He called in comments to MTV channel on the political arch-foes to swiftly elect a new president.
Full StoryTelecom Minister Butros Harb slammed on Monday the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Michel Aoun, considering him responsible for the ongoing presidential deadlock.
“Aoun refuses to engage in any electoral process if he wasn't 100% sure that he will be elected” as the new head of state, Harb said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat expressed willingness to amend the Taef accord, deeming it a must to safeguard the Christians in Lebanon.
Jumblat in remarks published in As Safir newspaper on Friday said that improving the Taef accord would also strengthen the jurisdictions of the country's top Christian post.
Full StoryPrime Minister Tammam Salam has expresses fears that the vacuum at the presidential palace would spill over to his cabinet, but hoped the government would not be paralyzed.
“Is there an intention to facilitate the task (of the government) or paralyze it?” Salam asked.
Full StoryThe U.N. Security Council expressed "disappointment and concern" Thursday that an election of a new Lebanese president has not occurred and demanded that polls be held without delay.
In a unanimous declaration, the Council's 15 member states urged the country's parliament "to uphold Lebanon's long standing democratic tradition and to work to ensure that presidential elections take place as soon as possible and without external interference."
Full StoryForeign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday stressed the need to “take the necessary measures” to address the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon and prevent the “collapse” of the country, noting that “Lebanon cannot await the political solution in Syria.”
“We explained the Lebanese strategy in combating international terrorism, especially in light of the Syrian spillover,” Bassil said after talks in Beirut with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Full StoryU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stressed on Thursday his country's support for Lebanon's stability, highlighting the cooperation between the two sides.
He emphasized during a telephone call with former President Michel Suleiman the need to elect his successor as soon as possible.
Full StoryThe March 14 General Secretariat slammed on Thursday Hizbullah chief sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, calling on the party to prioritize the higher interest of Lebanon.
“Nasrallah's speech focused on delusional victories in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.... to secure some presidential and parliamentary interests,” the March 14 said in a statement after its weekly meeting.
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