**An-Nahar**
There is talk of a neighboring country soon appointing a new ambassador to Lebanon after the parliamentary elections. It was noted that some prominent political movements did not conduct any election advertising campaigns, citing "We have no money." It was learned that a political leader called during a condolence visit following events in his region for awareness, wisdom, and rationality, emphasizing that the judiciary is the appropriate reference and that the Lebanese Army is responsible for maintaining security. It was observed that a "sovereign" political movement formed an electoral alliance with all those who hold enmity towards it, directing various accusations at its former leader.
**Al-Jumhuriya**
Efforts by a senior employee to be the "master of affairs" in some sensitive, pivotal files and formations have been thwarted. Sources denied that a resigned deputy in a mountainous Lebanon district withdrew from an alliance with a former minister to satisfy a party candidate, asserting that the opposite occurred. It was noted that the head of a significant parliamentary bloc has not yet begun his electoral rounds, raising questions about the matter.
**Al-Liwaa**
An Eastern diplomat revealed that the West did not appreciate the seriousness of Putin's threats to resort to war in Ukraine to prevent it from becoming a "NATO power" at Russia's doorstep. Retired and active employees are gathering documented data and information about banks that do not respect the Central Bank of Lebanon's circular to provide the full amount in the transferred banks, for review before relevant authorities. A formal source stated that under no circumstances will there be a sale of state assets or even the monetization of gold.
**Nidaa Al-Watan**
A head of a parliamentary committee mocked the Minister of Economy Amin Salam's statement that "negotiations with the IMF are going excellently," saying: "Where did President Mikati find this optimistic young man?" It is said that former deputy Amal Abu Zaid was deceived regarding his return from withdrawing from the contest through hints of receiving support from the Shiite duo's votes to ensure his victory. Entities close to Hezbollah are attempting to rally former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to activate the boycott and wage a war against the lists supported by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
**Al-Anbaa**
The position of an external party regarding a Lebanese entitlement remains murky, unclear about whether to provide support or not. A political movement will be compelled to sacrifice one of its candidates in a hot district.
**Al-Binaa**
Media sources highlighted the background of the welcome issued by the Maronite Bishops' Council regarding Pope Francis's visit in June, seeing it as a confirmation of the presidential announcement about the visit, despite a denial from a Vatican department about the date. They questioned the hypothesis of a third party intervening in the Vatican for political and media interference. A statistical study predicting the list supported by the duo winning Shiite, Druze, and Evangelical seats in Beirut II and the projects list securing three seats caused diplomatic mobilization and cross-border communications.
**Al-Akhbar**
The Ukrainian ambassador in Beirut, Igor Ostash, visited former MP Ammar Moussa, Hezbollah’s international relations official, to discuss the general situation and the Russian-Ukrainian war. The Ukrainian ambassador conveyed a message from his government to Hezbollah's leadership, thanking them for Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's position dismissing any presence of party personnel or experts in the formations fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. Ostash stated his country is "grateful" for this position, especially since it is aware of Hezbollah's "special combat capabilities." Meanwhile, while the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities is discussing equipping polling stations with electricity through private generators on election day, informed sources assert that applying this solution is "impossible" in over 40 centers lacking private generators or the necessary equipment to provide power even if generators are available. The electoral alliance between "Joy Hariri" candidate in Sidon, Youssef Al-Naqib, and the Lebanese Forces is facing engagement as the People's Democratic Party initiates communications with national forces and personalities in the city to launch a campaign against the alliance, including posting the photos and names of 39 Sidon victims, both martyrs and missing, led by Mohieddine Hashisho on the city streets. Al-Naqib, head of the Islamic Maqasid Association in Sidon, recently announced a list uniting him with three candidates from the Lebanese Forces for the Christian seats in Jezzine. It should be noted that the Forces' alliance in the 2018 round with Samir Al-Bazri did not face widespread objection, unlike the objection to Al-Naqib's alliance, which is seen as the concealed candidate for the Future Movement and MP Bahia Hariri. The "Toward the Nation" platform canceled contracts previously signed with several advertising companies due to a lack of financial resources to pay these companies' dues. "Revolution Channels" (MTV, LBC, and Al-Jadeed) agreed on common rules regarding the fees that candidates and parties must pay to use the three stations until May 13, amid continuing disputes over "pricing," as Al-Jadeed feels that the electoral competition is confined to the Christian street, leading to most spending being focused on LBC and MTV. Therefore, Al-Jadeed is attempting to invest more in the Sunni street, having reached agreements with President Fouad Siniora and MP Fouad Makhzoumi to promote their news, alongside "supplementary agreements" targeting not to expose certain candidates.
