Lawmaker Suggests New Electoral Law that Combines Orthodox Gathering, Winner-Takes-All

Former MP Mikhail al-Daher proposed a new electoral that combines winner-takes-all system with the Orthodox Gathering law, An Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the daily, the suggestion is based on adopting the Orthodox Gathering proposal in the mixed provinces and the winner-takes-all in the remaining provinces.

The plan considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system,

Al-Daher proposed his new suggestion to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

The ex-lawmaker rejected to comment on the matter, saying: “You should ask (Former Deputy Speaker Elie) al-Ferzli about the issue.”

Al-Ferzli, who previously proposed the Orthodox Gathering electoral law, told An Nahar that he will “agree on any electoral law that adopts actual equality.”

“The new proposal is fair,” Ferzli added.

According to An Nahar, al-Rahi also tasked former Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to discuss the new proposal with the rival political parties.

Several lawmakers argue that the Orthodox Gathering law encourages sectarian conflicts in the country.

In May, lawmakers extended their mandate by a period of 17 months, postponing the election over the deteriorating security conditions related to the conflict in Syria.

The decision, which had been expected, marks the first time that parliament has had to extend its term since Lebanon's own 15-year civil war ended in 1990, and underlines the growing turmoil in the country spilling over from the conflict in its neighbor.

Ninety-seven legislators in the 128-seat body voted in favor of extension in a session that lasted 10 minutes, which was widely seen as a blow to Lebanon's tradition of free elections.