Sada Al Balad – March 13, 2010

Who owns the political press in Lebanon?

The ex-Vice Prime Minister, Issam FARES, owns two newspapers: “Raqib Al Ahwal” (Monitor of the Situations), a daily newspaper, and “Al Jomhour Al Jadid” (the New Audience), a weekly one. The series of granted licenses goes on in the North. President Najib MIKATI has recently acquired the daily newspaper “Nidaa Al Watan” (The Call of the Nation) whereas President Omar KARAME owns the weekly newspaper “Al Raqib” (The Monitor). MP Sleiman FRANGIEH has another weekly newspaper “Sada Al Shamal” (Echo of the North).

Since the range of political licenses does not exclude anyone from the political class, the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb have four licenses, “Najwa” (weekly), “Beirut Telegraph”, “Rifai” and “Al Aamal” (Labor), which are daily publications, the last one considered to be the mouthpiece of the Lebanese Kataeb party.