DAILY SCOPE: Baroujardi Visits Lebanon, Hariri ’Trapped’ in Light of Saudi Absence

Local Editor

LEBANESE DAILIES:

AS-SAFIR:

On Army Day: May God Protect You from Politicians!

"Syrian Reconciliation" and "Israeli' Concerns

AN-NAHAR:

Counter-Attack for Opposition in Aleppo; Expelling Daesh from Manbij

Erdogan Puts Army to His Direct Supervision; Number of Arrests Reaches 19 Thousand

AL-AKHBAR:

"Suffocating Hariri": I Will Take Part in Dialogue only if Nasrallah Does!

‘Israel' Protecting Saudi Arabia from Iranian Cyberattacks!

AL-BINAA:

Amended al-Nusra Leads Opposition in the Fronts of Aleppo, De Mistura in Damascus

AL-LIWAA:

Netanyahu Accuses France of Supporting "Opposing" Organizations

AD-DIYAR:

Lebanese Army Day: What Dangers Threaten Lebanon?

Lebanese newspapers on Monday touched on the latest developments on the domestic and regional arenas, with attention to the serious developments in Syria's Aleppo which can change the face of the region.

The dailies also touched on the different parliamentary files that remain to be in impasse.

AS-SAFIR: Tension on the Rise between Future Party, People

The Future Party is witnessing a retreat in its popularity, which is growing very low especially in the North of Lebanon, where people of the town of Akkar and its surroundings have tense relations with the MPs and officials of the party, said As-Safir newspaper on Monday. This tension has increased in particular after the financial crisis of the party that led to halting almost all aids and services in the different regions which brought the "era of political Saudi money" to an end.

According to the daily, the crisis of the Future party is not only limited to the criticism of its people and audience due to the unfulfilled promises that were made by head of the Future party Saad Hariri in 2009.

Sources had reported earlier in May that the balance of powers and coalitions in North Lebanon has changed, and that is first reflected in the declining popularity and the change in the Sunni mood towards the "Future party". The paper went on to say that "the Sunni families that once supported the Future party today chose to engage in an electoral battle that includes two poles, the Future party versus former Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi.

AL-AKHBAR: Hariri "Trapped in Light of Saudi Absence!

Al-Akhbar newspaper on Monday saw that the regional scenario is getting more complicated, and that the Aleppo battle has imposed new conditions that are for the interest of the rivals of the Future party and its backer Saudi Arabia. The newspaper stresses that the battle in Syria does not seem to be to the favor of Saudi Arabia at least for the moment.

Also on the regional level, al-Akhbar said that the situation in Yemen is becoming more complicated, with the Kuwaiti negotiations reaching its last breaths. The reflection to these problems are seen on the Lebanese arena, as it has become clear that Saad Hariri is "trapped" since Riyadh did not solve his financial problems, nor did he receive green light from the Saudis to make concessions in Lebanon.

Also, the paper stressed that Hariri does not have anyone to address in Riyadh at the moment, as King Salman and his son Mohammad are on vacation outside the kingdom.

Pointing out that Hariri has reached a dead end and sees no solutions, the paper said that "when Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri suggested that Hariri increase the Future Party's representation at the dialogue table by attending the dialogue himself."

In response to Berri's request, Hariri asked whether [Hizbullah Secretary General Sayed Hassan] Nasrallah would do the same, he said "Will Sayyed Nasrallah take part in the session? If he attends the meetings, then I will do too. However, if the level of (Hizbullah) representation is kept the same then head of the Mustaqbal bloc Fouad [Saniora] will represent us."

AL-BINAA: Baroujardi Visits Lebanon on Army Day, Disputed Files Lingering

In light of the regional developments taking place, especially in Syria's Aleppo, al-Binaa newspaper reported on Monday that Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Aladine Baroujardi visits Lebanon.

According to sources, during his two-day visit Boroujerdi is expected to hold meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, Palestinian factions and the Muslim Scholars Committee.

From the Rafik Hariri International Airport, Boroujerdi whose visit coincides with the Army Day, issued a statement and hailed the "distinctive" role of the Lebanese army noting its efforts in countering the "Israeli" aggression and extremist terrorism, reported the National News Agency.

On another note, Future party parliamentary sources told al-Binaa newspaper that "the situation on the disputed files is still the same," adding that the rumors circulating on electing head of the Free patriotic Movement for presidency this month are not certain news.

The sources also assured that the Future party did not receive such information nor did Saad Hariri himself.

Source: al-Ahed News