Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi lauded on Thursday the exerted efforts to launch dialogue between the political arch-foes to break the ice and reduce tension in Lebanon.

“Dialogue between rival parties would end the ongoing dilemmas in the country,” al-Rahi said in his New Year’s Day sermon at Bkirki.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is reportedly meeting in person with the media officer at the Lebanese Forces, Melhem Riachi, media reports said on Thursday.

According to Ad Diyar newspaper, Aoun began meeting with Riachi over the past few days.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel welcomed the expected talks between Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and Samir Geagea, the head of the Lebanese Forces.

“We encourage dialogue between all (party) leaderships to salvage the Republic,” Gemayel told al-Mustaqbal newspaper in remarks published on Monday.

The Change and Reform bloc held on Monday onto its proposal to allow the people to choose their "true" representatives, calling on the implementation of the constitution to preserve coexistence.

“The bloc made more than one initiative” to end the presidential deadlock and “return to the Lebanese in general and the Christians in particular their right to choose a president and have a good representation,” said MP Ibrahim Kanaan.

The Free Patriotic Movement reiterated on Tuesday its condemnation of the extension of parliament's term, saying that it is a violation of democratic practices in Lebanon.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “The FPM will appeal before the constitutional council the decision to extend parliament's term.”

Lawmakers extended on Wednesday the mandate of the parliament until June 2017 amid a boycott by Christian MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement and the representatives of the Kataeb Party in the legislature.

FPM lawmakers from the Change and Reform bloc resorted to boycott while Marada Movement and Tashnag Party representatives in the bloc attended the session. But members of Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh's bloc voted for the extension as Tashnag's two lawmakers voted against it.

The joint parliamentary committees agreed on Wednesday to unify the new wage scale for public and private school teachers.

The head of the parliamentary finance committee, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, briefed reporters after the session on the decision.

The Change and Reform bloc stated on Tuesday that “consensual democracy” should not be exploited to obstruct democratic practices, such as the parliamentary and presidential elections.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan stated after the bloc's weekly meeting: “Those obstructing the parliamentary elections are the same sides that are blocking the presidential polls.”

The Change and Reform bloc reiterated on Tuesday its commitment to its stances regarding the new wage scale and its funding.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “We continue to reject increasing the Value Added Tax to fund the wage scale as we cannot add more burdens on the people.”

The Change and Reform bloc stressed on Tuesday that a new budget for Lebanon should focus on properly equipping the army given the terrorist challenges it is facing.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “An armed takfiri group assaulted Lebanese territories and attacked the army.”