Lebanon:DAILY SCOPE: Tripoli Proves Drop in Popularity of Fu...

DAILY SCOPE: Tripoli Proves Drop in Popularity of Future Party, International Organizations Lobbying to Keep Syrians in

Local Editor

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Tripoli's Surprise: Rifi Defeats the "Huge Coalition"

AL-AKHBAR:

The Day when Future Party Was Crashed in the North

AL-BINAA:
Lavrov to Close Turkish Borders

AL-LIWAA:

Salam Reassures Electing New President, Parliament...Hariri Meets Kuwaiti Prince Today

AD-DIYAR:

Future Party Chief Loses His Strategic Depth in Tripoli

Lebanese newspapers on Monday followed up on the latest domestic developments, especially those related to the municipal elections as the fourth round of elections took place successfully in the country on Sunday. Newspapers also touched on the ongoing Syrian refugees' crisis as well as other domestic and regional issues.

AS-SAFIR: Balance of Powers in Tripoli Changed; Sunni Mood towards Future Party Shifting

As-Safir newspaper touched on the fourth round of municipal and mayoral elections on Monday, pointing out that a new political map is being drawn in the North of Lebanon and Akkar, which will have huge impact over the coming parliamentary elections.

According to the paper, 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.

Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, who was known as one of the staunch defenders and allies of Future Party head Saad Hariri declared his resignation from the government in February, without prior consultation or notice.
Polls opened in the fourth and final round of municipal and mukhtar elections in North Lebanon and Akkar Sunday. In Tripoli, three lists are competing in the city. The "For Tripoli" list is backed by former prime ministers Saad Hariri and Najib Mikati, ex-minister Faysal Karami and some Islamist groups, according to the Daily Star.

The "Tripoli's Choice" list is backed by resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, a Tripoli native who recently split from his allies in the Future Movement. Former MP Misbah al-Ahdab is backing the "Tripoli Capital" ticket.

AL-AKHBAR: Future Party Crushed in Tripoli

Under the title "Future Party Gets Crushed in Capital of the North", al-Akhbar newspaper wrote that all what Future party Chief Saad Hariri needs to do to get convinced and convince others whether he is a "leader" across Lebanon is to look at the results of the elections in Tripoli; once he does he will understand that he is wrong.

According to the paper, "the Future party was smashed in the electoral race with other political parties, and it was not only the weakest party on the popular level, but also its electoral machine was the frailest among others."

As-Safir newspaper had reported earlier in May that the influence of the "Future party" has decreased in the capital, especially as its Chief Saad Hariri has been absent for quite some time from Lebanon and that was reflected in the fact that 80% of Beirut's people abstained from voting. It anticipated that the same decrease of popularity will be witnessed in Tripoli in North Lebanon.

It also pointed out that the Future party-backed "Beirutis list" in the Beirut elections was far from being harmonious, especially as it brought together candidates from the Christian Free Patriotic Movement and the Sunni Future party together, and that prompted many Christians from voting to the opposing list.

AN-NAHAR: International Organizations Lobbying to Keep Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

In a statement to An-Nahar newspaper on Monday, Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi said that "the reports issued by the international organizations discussing the Syrian refugees' crisis show sympathy towards Lebanon but at the same time assure that Lebanon can tolerate more."

"There is an international lobby promoting the stay of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, especially as some international organizations are summoning high-profile university professors in the country and providing them with information that aims at encouraging the idea of allowing the Syrian refugees to stay in Lebanon," he added.

Qazzi went on to say that certain international organizations such as the world bank and the International Monetary Fund are trying to propagate the positive impact of hiring Syrian refugees in Lebanon as and are trying to recruit scholars and researchers to spread the idea of accepting Syrian naturalization in Lebanon."

The official stressed that there should be an agenda to establish for the return of the Syrians to their country before the end of the war, otherwise there is a big chance that a civil war will start between the Syrians and Lebanese in Lebanon."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had said in a report he submitted to the Vienna conference on Syria that refugees have the right to obtain the nationalities of the countries they live in.

His remarks had prompted an urgent meeting for the Lebanese government's Syrian refugee cell which comprises Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas and Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi.

Lebanon is home to more than one million registered Syrian refugees, or nearly a quarter of the country's 4.5 million people. Lebanese officials say that another half a million Syrians live in the country as well.

Source: al-Ahed news