DAILY SCOPE: Hariri in Worst Phase since Entering Politics, Cabinet to Hold Session Thursday
Local Editor
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AS-SAFIR:
When "Future" Leader Threatens to Quit Political Work
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AL-AKHBAR:
"Voice of the People" Moves towards Saida Municipality
AL-JOMHOURIA:
Hollande, Rai Continue Presidential Discussions
AL-BINAA:
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Lebanese newspapers on Tuesday continued to follow up on the results of the municipal elections that were held on Sunday, which constituted a blow in the face of former PM Saad Hariri, as results clearly showed a drop in his popularity in Beirut. Newspapers also discussed other domestic and regional topics of major significance.
AL-AKHBAR: Hariri in Worst Phase Since He Entered Politics
"Future Party Chief Saad Hariri lives one of his worst phases since he entered the realm of politics," wrote al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday.
The paper said that it is the first time when his audience and that of his allies abandon him, noting that "the results of the municipal elections in Beirut that were held on Sunday revealed what can be considered as scandalous."
The newspaper underscored that even though Hariri had held the electoral campaign himself as he visited the quarters and neighborhoods of Beirut, the Future party-backed "Beirutis" list won less than 10 percent of the votes of the Beiruti people.
AS-SAFIR: Hariri Feels Defeated, Turnout Lower than 10%
"[ex-PM] Saad Hariri's speech on Monday following the municipal and mayoral elections implied that he feels defeated, and unless he acts indifferent and neglects reading the numbers of the low turnout, he cannot pretend like he has won in the elections," wrote As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday.
Hariri on Monday accused some parties who nominated some candidates on the Future party-backed Beirutis List of "voting for other lists" in the capital's municipal elections that were held Sunday.
Turnout was low in the capital on Sunday with only 20 percent of registered voters casting votes, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said.
On a related note, the newspaper added that "Lebanon is not okay, or it can be said that Lebanon is in danger," pointing out that the foreign dangers are inevitable, whether from the South or the East of Lebanon, but the internal danger and threat is exemplified in the sectarian calculations that rule the behavior of the Lebanese people even during the municipal elections.
AL-JOMHOURIA: Security Situation of Elections "Good"
Security sources told al-Jomhouria newspaper that the security atmosphere during the municipal and mayoral elections that took place on Sunday was "good", which reflects political understandings between the political parties and forces on the ground.
"Such a fact reflects the security stability in Lebanon, which is a result of the political understandings between the different sides in the country," a source told al-Jomhouria.
The first round of elections -of the four-phase municipal elections, which take place every six years, in the Bekaa governorate were held on Sunday, along with the Beirut and Baalbek-Hermel governorates.
However, Mount Lebanon elections are set for May 15, South Lebanon and Nabatieh for May 22, and North Lebanon and Akkar for May 29. The number of municipal seats contested in the first round of municipal elections in Beirut and the Bekaa Valley is 2,124, while the number of mayors' posts is 668.
AL-LIWAA: Cabinet to meet This Week, Contentious Files Avoided
Al-Liwaa newspaper on Tuesday said that the government is scheduled to hold a meeting later this week, in an attempt to avoid tackling issues of dispute.
Alice Shabtini, Minister of the Displaced told the newspaper that the "cabinet is trying to avoid discussing any contentious issues or including these in its agenda."
Therefore, according to the paper, the cabinet which is set to convene on Thursday most probably will not tackle the case of the state security general directorate.
Source: al-Ahed news
