DAILY SCOPE: Mount Lebanon Elections Demonstrate Aoun Popularity, French Initiative to End Crises in Lebanon

Local Editor

LEBANESE DAILIES:

AS-SAFIR:

Aoun Renews his Christian Leadership... Franjieh Making Calculations

Al-Ghouta: The Grip of "Jaysh al-Islam" Dismantling

AN-NAHAR:

International Group to Support Syria Meets Today, Lavrov: Our Aerial Ops Enhanced the Situation

AL-AKHBAR:

Banks and Hizbullah: Governmental Confusion

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Turning the Page of Elections in Mount Lebanon
Who Won in Jounieh?

AD-DIYAR:

This is Berri's Plan to Get Rid of the "Extension Curse"

Lebanese newspapers on Tuesday followed up on the municipal elections that took place in Mount Lebanon, which revealed that head of the Free Patriotic Movement General Michel Aoun is still on the top of the list of Christian leaders in terms of popularity.

The dailies discussed the local achievements that happened during the elections, and tackled the preparations for the third phase of municipal and mayoral elections that will take place next Sunday in South Lebanon.

AN-NAHAR: French Diplomatic Moves to End Constitutional, Political Crises in Lebanon

Sources following on the presidential deadlock in Lebanon told An-Nahar newspaper that consultations are on the go in terms of ending the impasse, despite the fact that Lebanon is currently busy with its municipal elections. According to the sources, the most noticeable initiative is a new French move towards resolving the crises in Lebanon through diplomatic move.

French Ambassador to Lebanon Emanuel Bon told head of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri on Monday that France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will visit Lebanon on May 27, reported An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday.

According to the paper, Ayrault will be holding talks and consultations with all Lebanese political parties, with the aim of "preparing for the international conference dedicated to resolve the constitutional and political crises in Lebanon."

AL-AKHBAR: Major Support for Aoun, yet No Absolute Winner

The Lebanese daily al-Akhbar said on Tuesday that the scenario of elections in Jounieh and Christian areas showed there is major support for head of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun, even though neither Christian parties, nor families have emerged as absolute winners from the second round of municipal and mayoral elections held in Mount Lebanon.

Preliminary results in Jounieh in Keserwan, the Maronite hub, showed that a candidate list backed by the Free Patriotic Movement [FPM] and the Kataeb Party has won all seats of the town's local council in a fierce battle against another list backed by the Lebanese Forces party [LF] and other allies. Also, the paper noted that in Keserwan, two major candidates of the FPM and partners of Aoun, army general Shamel Roukouz and new head of Jounieh Municipality John Hobeish won the electoral race.

The Mount Lebanon pole was the second in four-stage municipal elections across Lebanon. The first round was held in Beirut, the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel district on May 8. The third and fourth round of municipal polls is scheduled for Sunday in South Lebanon and Nabatieh, and on May 29 in North Lebanon and Akkar.

AL-JOMHOURIA: Hariri, Hollande to Tackle Presidential Vacuum, Army Grant

Talks between head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri and the French President Francois Hollande will focus on the presidential vacuum in Lebanon, and the Saudi grant to supply the army with French weapons, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

Sources close to Hariri told the daily that "The meeting will be bilateral," adding that "It has a particular importance because Hollande is keen to accomplish a breakthrough through diplomacy."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources told the paper that "This move comes in a bid to break the deadlock which has paralyzed previous initiatives aiming at end the vacuum."

The sources said that French efforts have been made and have succeeded in securing a Saudi approval to produce the weapons promised for Lebanon, and keep them in French warehouses until determining the point of use. The meeting will be held at the Elysee Palace at 3:00 pm.

Source: al-Ahed News