The following are a selection of stories from Lebanese newspapers that may be of interest to Daily Star readers. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
As-Safir
Jumblatt for scrapping the pay raise draft law ... Khalil not waiting for new committee
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt told As-Safir that he will not reveal the favorite candidate for the presidency before Wednesday’s session to elect a new president for Lebanon.
"Whoever wants to know who I will vote for has to wait until Wednesday. I will not disclose the name of the candidate now," Jumblatt said.
On a separate issue, Jumblatt called for the pay hike draft law to be scrapped entirely, not amended.
Approving the salary scale, Jumblatt said, will lead Lebanon to a Greece-like collapse scenario.
Al-Joumhouria
Aoun promoting himself as a consensus presidential candidate
Sources told Al-Joumhouria that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun does not plan to nominate himself for the presidency so that he wouldn’t face off with other candidates.
The sources said Aoun has sought and continues to promote himself as a consensus candidate with the largest possible number of political parties and political forces and independent figures rallying around him.
An-Nahar
April 23 first round of the presidential race
Gemayel second presidential candidate after Geagea
An-Nahar has learned that the Kataeb Party met Wednesday evening to discuss the upcoming elections in the wake of announcement that the election will be held on April 23 and following the nomination of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
A Kataeb party source told An-Nahar that the party won’t veto any candidate, and expressed disappointment that the party was not asked for its opinion.
The source said Kataeb believes it has a “natural candidate” – former President and Kataeb party head Amin Gemayel – who is able to attract supporters from outside his group.
Al-Mustaqbal
Geagea announces "strong republic" ... Gemayel prepares to declare his candidacy
Al-Mustaqbal has learned that a parliamentary consensus has been reached on the need to secure a two-thirds quorum in the first and second rounds of the presidential election.
Lebanese Forces leader MP Samir Geagea announced his political platform during a news conference that was attended by a huge number of political figures and delegates, mainly MP Michel Moussa, representing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Another significant issue is the revelation that Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel plans to nominate himself for the presidency.
Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi told Al-Mustaqbal that Gemayel will officially announce his candidacy either Tuesday or Saturday.
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