Bassil's Allies Deal Blow to His Electoral Law Proposal
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil's latest electoral law proposal has started to reel from blows dealt to it by both allies and rivals of the FPM, a media report said on Tuesday.
“Pessimism is still engulfing most forces as they sense the inability to reach a new electoral law before the grace period passes,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported.
“Minister Jebran Bassil's latest hybrid electoral law proposal is reeling from the objections of the political forces,” the daily added, noting that “the proposal has joined the host of 'dead suggestions'.”
Bassil's hybrid, two-round electoral system had been initially rejected by Druze leader MP Walid Jumblat and the Lebanese Forces, and on Tuesday MP Ammar Houri of al-Mustaqbal bloc said “Bassil's suggestion with its sectarian voting round cannot pass and it is distant from the spirit of the Taef Accord and the constitution.”
Bassil's format prevents voters from voting for candidates from other sects in the first round and divides Lebanon into 26 districts. The second round involves a non-sectarian proportional representation system and 10 larger districts.
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