BEIRUT: The Press Federation is preparing for the election of a new board next week and a new head replacing Mohammad Baalbaki, who has served in the post for over three decades.
Hopefuls began filing their candidacies Monday, and the competition will likely pit a list headed by Awni al-Kaaki, the editor-in-chief of Ash-Sharq newspaper against one formed by Salah Salam, the editor-in-chief of Al-Liwaa newspaper.
But sources from the federation told The Daily Star that efforts were underway to secure an agreement over a consensus list in order to avoid a battle. These attempts have achieved no clear outcome so far.
Friday noon is the deadline for submitting candidacies and elections will take place Monday.
The current board’s term expired last month.
The board is composed of 18 members. Twelve of these represent daily political publications, five weekly or monthly political publications, and one represents nonpolitical publications and news agencies.
The 17 board members representing political publications will be elected by 92 owners or representatives of political publications who have paid their annual subscriptions to the federation. The 17 are elected in one list.
Not all of the 92 publications are being published currently.
The remaining board member representing nonpolitical publications and news agencies will be elected by around 100 voters who have paid their annual subscriptions. The election of this remaining board member is held separately from the vote for representatives of political publications.
The eldest member of the newly elected board will chair the first meeting of the body, during which the 18 members elect a head of the Press Federation from among them.
Although Salam and Kaaki, who are also running for the post of the head of the Press Federation, are both close to the Future Movement, the group is backing Kaaki for the post.
The sources said that the fact that the Future Movement backed Kaaki would boost the prospects of his win.
Speaking to The Daily Star, Kaaki said that securing funds to guarantee the continuous functioning of newspapers and taking care of his colleagues would be the main goals he would work to achieve if he is elected to head the Press Federation.
Asked about the prospects of agreement on a consensus list, Kaaki said: “All options are possible.”
“It would be better to have only one list that wins unopposed,” Kaaki said.
“But it won’t be a problem if a battle takes place. Democracy is good after all, and Lebanon is the first democratic country in the region.”
Kaaki expected that by Thursday or Friday, it would be clear whether a battle would take place or consensus would be achieved on one ticket which would win unopposed.
Salam said he refused to go into details regarding his program before it was clear whether a battle would take place.
Salam said he preferred that consensus was reached on one list rather than having a battle.
“I support a consensus list that wins unopposed. The divisions the country is witnessing are enough,” he said. “The federation has preserved its unity at the peak of divisions which were plaguing the country.”
Salam also questioned whether the elections could be postponed.
The sources said that Salam has actually proposed postponing the polls, but added that his attempt hit a dead end, with the majority supporting holding the elections Monday. The sources expected that Salam would withdraw from the race at the last minute.
Asked whether his withdrawal was a possibility, Salam said: “All options are possible, but it is still too early to discuss this matter from now.”
The council is elected for a three-year term.
The new head of the Press Federation would replace Baalbaki, who has held the post since February 1982.
The sources said that Baalbaki, 94, would likely be elected as an honorary head of the Press Federation, a title he would keep for the rest of his life.
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