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.

As the result of the army's and security apparatuses strenuous efforts to preserve Lebanon's stability, the security situation is “under control now more than ever before,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

“It must be emphasized that the security situation in Lebanon is under control more than ever before. The Lebanese army and the various security apparatuses are on high alert to confront any emergency,” an unnamed security source told the daily.

Speaker Nabih Berri called on political parties to grasp the chance and approve his electoral law proposal because it “will not be valid after May 15” when an anticipated parliament session convenes, al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.

“I have done everything I could, but the others did not pick up the opportunity. The last law proposal I made to get out of the current crisis will not be valid after May 15,” Berri told the daily in an interview.

Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh said on Friday that President Michel Aoun supports a cabinet voting on an electoral law if consensus fails on the issue, pointing out that vacuum at the legislative authority opens the door to a constituent assembly.

“President Michel Aoun adheres to an option of voting on a law, versus consensus which has started to generalize (between political parties),” Hamadeh told VDL (100.5).