DAILY SCOPE: Bulk of Daesh-Linked Operations Thwarted, Aoun Has Keys to Presidential Elections

Local Editor

LEBANESE DAILIES:

AS-SAFIR:

Mashnouq to Hariri: This is My Story...Not My Conviction!

Russia to Armed Groups in Syria: Time is Over, We Return Strongly to Aleppo

AL-AKHBAR:

Hollande to Hariri: Seek Aoun

Qassem to al-Akhbar: Future Party Wants "1960 Adventure"... It will Lose

AL-BINAA:

Berri, Jumblatt Trying to Provide a Safe Landing for Hariri on Course of Hizbullah Understanding

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Electoral Law Maneuvers Ongoing

AL-LIWAA:

Berri, Asiri to Support Moderate Powers... Avert Strife

Lebanese newspapers on Tuesday touched on the increasing tension among the lines of the Future party, after MP Saad Hariri's loss in Tripoli's elections in face of resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, at a time when all Hariri's allies have come to realize that the key to electing a president in Lebanon lies in the hands of head of the Patriotic Movement General Michel Aoun.

The dailies also discussed other domestic and regional matters, including the parliamentary elections and the ongoing war in Syria.

AL-AKHBAR: Hollande Tells Hariri to Knock Aoun's Door

Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday said that "it has come to a conclusion that even the French President Francois Hollande has become convinced that the key to resolving the pending presidential crisis in Lebanon is in the hands of Head of the Free Patriotic Movement general Michel Aoun." Accordingly, the paper said that Hollande gave an advice to MP Saad Hariri to communicate with head of the Change and Reform Bloc Aoun and without A Saudi Veto.

The newspaper added that "Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq did not lie when he "admitted" a few days ago that Saudi Arabia forced the Future party to take "unpopular stances" on certain domestic and regional files, one of which is the visit to Syria."

Al-Akhbar further pointed out that this "coercing" of decisions got the Future party to where it stands today, especially that Riyadh opposed the election of Aoun as President after he was nominated by Hariri.

Even though sources from the British and Saudi embassies denied their meddling in Lebanese affairs (especially when talking about the presidential elections), yet the Al-Akhbar went on to say that March 14 sources assured that Saudi Arabia and up to this moment is the "number one" political element impeding the process of electing a president in Lebanon, as it keeps preventing Hariri from approaching Aoun."

Sources revealed through al-Akhbar that during Hariri's latest visit to France, Hollande told him that "The solution to your political domestic crisis can only be reached through Aoun," and advised Hariri to "visit Aoun's resident at Rabieh since that would be the only exit to the presidential vacuum."

According to sources, Hollande's position comes after diplomatic contacts that were made by France with Lebanese, regional and international powers and after the French President sees no real potentials for Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh to reach presidency.

AN-NAHAR: Bulk of Terrorist Operations Exposed, Directly Linked to Daesh

An-Nahar newspaper reported that more revelations have surfaced in terms of the terrorist networks arrested in Lebanon, whose members admitted to have been directly linked to the Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] operation rooms in Syria's Raqqa.

The newspaper noted that there have been numerous confessions from the suspects on prospected assassinations of army personnel as well as terrorist explosions that were aimed at targeting populated areas. According to the paper, the bulk of confessions allowed the army intelligence to arrest new masterminds directly related to the Kherbet Dawoud cell in Akkar.

Lebanese forces are engaged in operations to stop Daesh spillover from the northern border with Syria. Last week, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk revealed for the first time that in the past three months security forces have been able to thwart three attempts by Daesh networks for surveying and plotting explosions.

Lebanese security frequently conducts raids in the north, especially in the town of Arsal, and has busted multiple Daesh cell groups.

AL-BINAA: Mixed Law Most Probably Adopted for Parliamentary Elections

Parliamentary sources told al-Binaa on Tuesday that most probably Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's suggestion on a mixed parliamentary electoral law will be adopted, especially due to the embarrassment that has hit all sides in the country in terms of the stalled elections. The sources stressed that the choice today lies between Berri's mixed law and the 1960 law, but assured that the elections will take place on time.

Berri's proposal, which was announced in May, calls for parliamentary elections to be conducted earlier than June 2017, where they are currently scheduled to be held. If rival factions were unable to agree to a new voting law, parliamentary elections will be held based on the old and contested 1960 system.

It is worth noting that the current parliament's term will end in ten months. The joint parliamentary committees have been holding regular meetings to zero in the number of electoral draft-laws before referring a few over to parliament.

Parliament extended its own term twice, once in 2013 and again in 2014. Legislative elections were supposed to take place in 2013, however the absence of an electoral system alternative to the 1960s law and the unstable security situation in the country at the time were given as reasons by most MPs to extend their own terms.

Source: al-Ahed News