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Report: Jumblat Suggests New Electoral Law Format

As endeavors to endorse a new electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary polls stutter, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat recently submitted to Speaker Nabih Berri a new draft law proposal that was kept away from media spotlight, media reports said on Thursday.

“Jumblat has submitted some general ideas about an electoral law that involves specific acceptable proportionality, agreeable for him, and very much unlike other formats that tend to marginalize some political components,” unnamed sources following up on electoral law discussions told al-Joumhouria daily.

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Aoun to Visit the Vatican and Kuwait

Following his tour that included several Arab countries, President Michel Aoun prepares to kick start a trip that will involves the Vatican and Kuwait, media reports said on Thursday.

A specific date has not been set as yet, but reports said it will be some time soon.

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Arslan: International Resolutions Pave Way for Naturalization of Refugees

State Minister of the Displaced Talal Arslan emphasized that displaced Syrians is one of the serious challenges that Lebanon has to face, and emphasized that international decisions in that regard could pave the way for their naturalization, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“The crisis of displaced Syrians is one of the challenges emanating from the Syrian war. It is our duty to understand the suffering of our Syrian brothers and their agony as the result of the terror war machine, but Lebanon's potentials are much lower than it can endure at the demographic and economic levels,” said Arslan.

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Lebanon Commemorates Rafik Hariri's Assassination Anniversary

Lebanon marked on Tuesday the twelfth anniversary of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in a massive and shocking suicide bombing in 2005 that destabilized the country.

In downtown Beirut, political leaders gathered to lay flowers at Hariri’s grave.

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Aoun Says Fate of Hizbullah's Arms Subject to Defense Strategy

In light of the controversy that emerged after President Michel Aoun's statement about Hizbullah's weapons, Aoun stated on Tuesday that the future of the party's arms will comply with Lebanon's National Defense Strategy.

“The matter is subject to the National Defense Strategy which we have been trying to set when the incidents got ahead of us,” Aoun told Egyptian Nile News TV channel.

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Aoun Visits Arab League, Agrees with Jordan King on Boosting Cooperation

President Michel Aoun stated in front of Arab League delegates in Cairo on Tuesday that Lebanon has regained its strength and is ready to carry on with its role within the Arab family.

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Report: LF Says Failure on Election Law Brings on Parliament Vote or Vacuum

The Lebanese forces warned on Tuesday that shall efforts fail to agree on a consensual electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary polls, the political parties would be compelled to either run a parliament vote on the available electoral law proposals, or enter into a parliamentary vacuum, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

“We have not dropped chances to agree on a new electoral law, particularly that efforts in that regard are ongoing. We are working on a new hybrid electoral format that takes into consideration the remarks made about the previous formats,” unnamed Lebanese Forces sources told the daily.

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Baabda Palace Replies to Controversy over Aoun's Position on Hizbullah's Arms

The latest stance made by President Michel Aoun as for the role of the Resistance's arms in Lebanon has initiated a flurry of political reactions some favoring and other criticizing.

Ministerial sources close to the Baabda Presidential Palace said they were astonished at criticisms lashing out at Aoun's position, they told al-Joumhouria daily on Monday: “What Aoun meant was clear because the Army's capabilities do not permit a direct confrontation with the Israeli army.

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Aoun Meets Sisi, Says Egypt Can Launch 'Arab Rescue Initiative' against Terrorism

President Michel Aoun on Monday started his first visit to Cairo since his election in October and held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

"Hopes of the role that Egypt could play are high. An Egypt of moderation and openness... could launch an Arab rescue initiative based on a strategy to fight terrorism," Aoun said at a joint press conference.

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Report: March 14 Says President's Position on Hizbullah's Arms Refutes the Constitution

A statement made by President Michel Aoun on Sunday stressing that Hizbullah's arms do not contradict with the State, has triggered a number of reactions concerning his position, media reports said on Monday.

An unnamed prominent source from the March 14 coalition criticized the stance and pointed out saying: “The statement made by President of the Republic contradicts provisions of the constitution and the Defense Law,” he told al-Joumhouria daily

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