Berri: Legislative Session Won't Convene Unless Accord is Reached on Electoral Law

Speaker Nabih Berri voiced a warning statement that the anticipated May 15 parliament session will not convene shall consensus between political parties fail on a new electoral law, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“I don't agree on an extension (of the parliament term). If an agreement on a new law is not reached before May 15, the legislative session will not convene,” warned Berri.

The daily added that the Speaker is “seriously mulling the postponement of the parliament session for the inability of an agreement.”

Sources of Ain el-Tineh told the newspaper that “Berri insists on holding the parliamentary elections, and he alone has the keys to holding the legislative session either to approve the new law or to amend the deadlines of the law in force.”

Addressing his visitors on Tuesday, Berri reiterated adherence to his law proposal, assuring that the format he presented falls in the interest of the country and to “protect the term” of President Michel Aoun, “while other parties are only suggesting formats that destroy the term.”

Berri's proposal calls for electing a senate under a sectarian voting electoral system and a parliament under an electoral law fully based on proportional representation.

Referring to a “sectarian” format presented by Free Patriotic Movement Jebran Bassil without mentioning him, Berri stated: “They said they want to represent the Christians, but it turned out that that they want to represent the Christians of their choice while excluding others.

“I have presented my project for the fair and correct representation of all, especially Christians. If they do not believe it, let them try it.”

Berri stressed that a vote on a law will not take place during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, “Let them know, there will be no voting on an election law.”

On the vacuum at the legislative authority if all endeavors fail to reach a voting system, he warned: “If a law is not formed and the polls were not staged before June 20, there will be no country or institutions.”