Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed on Tuesday that it is necessary to develop solutions, projects and programs to address problems in the country, pointing out that the northern city of Tripoli “has a historic opportunity ahead that we won't allow anyone to spoil.”

Hariri's comments came at the opening of the Development Conference in Tripoli at the Grand Serial, organized by the Safadi Foundation under the title “From Tripoli to all of Lebanon - Progress and Development".

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said the term of President Michel Aoun has engaged itself in tedious unfulfilled pledges, pointing out that Speaker Nabih Berri will always be his ally, al-Akhbar daily reported on Tuesday.

“The mandate (of Aoun) has engaged itself into the whirlpool of the electoral law and was in a hurry to complete the qualifying law format,” Jumblat told the daily in an interview.

A ministerial committee tasked with studying a new electoral law for the parliamentary elections will convene on Tuesday, amid reports denying that Prime Minister Saad Hariri has a “rescue initiative” up his sleeve, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

The daily said the overall picture is pessimistic, unless a promising outcome emerges from the committee meeting which will be chaired by Hariri at the Grand Serail and will discuss a voting system draft.

Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil stressed on Monday the “legality” of the power-generating vessel competitive tenders, in light of accusations voiced by some political parties alleging otherwise.

Abi Khalil who spoke at the beginning of the tender opening said: “The tender is perfectly legal and is carried out in accordance with a book of conditions prepared by the government of (former) PM Najib Miqati.”

Prime Minister Saad Hariri congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his victory in France's presidential election on Sunday.

“I salute the French people for the democratic option and I look forward to continuing to build the best relations between Lebanon and France," said Hariri in a tweet on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri said political parties who adhered to “obstinate” positions as for an agreement on an electoral law, will be “regretful” later, media reports said on Monday.

“There are only ten days separating us from the parliament meeting, but after May 15, those who raised the roof of their demands will repent each moment wasted” instead of finding on agreement on a new voting system, Berri was quoted as telling his visitors.

Ceaseless coordination between the Center House and Ain el-Tineh are ongoing in order to find a new electoral law to rule Lebanon's parliamentary polls scheduled in May, in light of looming deadlines mainly the end of the parliament's term in June, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri has intensified deliberations with various political parties in that regard, said the daily.

The Lebanese Forces denied on Saturday media report alleging that the party seeks to be part of a coalition aspiring to obtain a special license to produce electricity in the northern city of Jbeil (Byblos), after the government approved a plan to lease Turkish generating vessels for Lebanon's plagued electricity sector.

“The LF categorically denies a report published in al-Akhbar daily claiming that sharp rhetoric led, by (LF) Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani, about the power generating vessels was caused by the LF and Kataeb's intention of joining a coalition to obtain a special license to produce electricity in the city of Byblos,” an LF statement said.

President Michel Aoun stressed on Saturday that the State's efforts will continue to bring Lebanon to the forefront of the Levant and to make it the focal point for business and tourism.

“We are determined to bring Lebanon to the forefront of the Middle East and make it the focal point,” Aoun told Lebanese diaspora delegations.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said he believes that political parties will not cross the deadlines set to agree on an electoral law, pointing out that the actual deadline is when the parliament's term ends in June, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Saturday.

“The media is concerned but I am not worried. The actual red line is not May 15, but June 20, that is when the term of the parliament effectively ends. We have made deliberations in all directions. I believe that everyone realizes now how critical the situation is. Before we reach the red lines there will be an agreement on a new law,” Geagea told the daily in an interview.