NNA - Former Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Wednesday said at a press conference that he had submitted an electoral bill based on 5 governorates, in which each voter votes within his or her jurisdiction with two preferential votes. He suggested as well shortening the current parliament's mandate.

Moreover, the lawmaker called on the parliament to meet and discuss the new electoral law, expecting the situation to only improve through early elections.

"An imbalance exists today because of the presence of strong and weak parties; this is unacceptable. We await the ordinary Parliament session to submit a constitutional amendment to set the voting age at 18," Mikati added.

NNA - The "Independence Center" Parliamentary Bloc held a meeting at the office of former PM Najib Mikati today, in the presence of MPs Jean Obeid, Ncoula Nahhas and Ali Darwish.

The conferees dwelled on the current prevailing situation, and the ministerial statement discussion and confidence session scheduled for tomorrow at the Parliament House.

In this context, the Bloc stated that its members will not attend the session tomorrow, and consequently, will not give the new government their votes of confidence.

The Bloc indicated that its decision comes in line with its call for building bridges of dialogue and understanding, instead of contributing to the widening wedge between the state and the people.

The Bloc also stressed that the state's authority is required, at this fateful crisis stage, to call for a national gathering to come up with a consensus that would address and solve the roots of the prevailing conditions.

NNA - Former PM Najib Mikati announced, after meeting President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, that his bloc, the Independent Center, did not name anyone as head of government.

Mikati said after the meeting: "Finally, the binding consultations, that we were calling for, took place and during the fifty-day period we noticed how things developed as each day of delay cost a great deal on the economy and social conditions of all Lebanese. In the Independent Central Bloc, which will soon participate in the consultations, we discussed this morning the issue of naming and set standards for the Prime Minister who is ready and who has expressed his willingness to take on this difficult task. And the criteria are the capabilities of this person, his attendance, and his representative capacity. Frankly, despite my personal respect for the two subjects, we did not find anyone with these specifications, and therefore we did not name anyone and veiled the designation".

Replying to a question Mikati said "With all my respect for people and my friendship with them, in this period we need an exceptional person with an exceptional team. I do not want to frustrate the hopes of the Lebanese, but I have doubts that none of the parties can take over at this stage".

"We are not talking about the Sunni or Christian cover, and I remind you that Prime Minister Hariri asked to delay consultations because the Lebanese forces and the Free Patriotic Movement refused to name him, and therefore this matter should be a message that we are not satisfied with the name that landed by parachute" Mikati stated.
Replying to another question the Former PM stated "It is the path of things which determines the name, and if the designation is all of one color, then it will be a Government of one color. As for the comparison between the conditions for forming my Government and the current conditions, it is not suitable, because the situation is much more difficult, and I remind you that I spoke about capabilities, attendance and representation. You must compare to know how the conditions are different".

NNA - MP Najib Mikati said in a press conference he addressed this Wednesday to respond to the most recent complaint of unjust enrichment filed against him: "I was surprised by the timing. Today, Judge Ghada Aoun arrived to her office as if on a mission. It is indeed a message, and it has been well received. The message reads: We have had enough of you, Najib Mikati; you have not voted for the president three years ago, and you are a defender of the constitution, the community and the prime minister's office."

Mikati said "everybody knows I am under the ceiling of the law, since day one."

Addressing what he called "a fabricated file," the MP reiterated readiness to lift bank secrecy off his accounts, appealing to Minister of Justice, Albert Sarhan, to save the Covenant and work to stop the politicization of the judiciary.