Berri: Discussions Focusing on Proportional Representation System

Speaker Nabih Berri assured on Monday that atmospheres are positive although the idea of establishing a senate has been withdrawn from a proposal he made on an electoral law.

“Withdrawing the idea of creating a senate by May 15, does not mean that the atmospheres are not positive with all political parties, especially that proportional representation is the subject under discussion currently,” the parliament leadership said in a statement on Monday.

As part of efforts to resolve the electoral law crisis, Berri had recently proposed the election of a parliament under a proportional representation system in six electoral districts and the creation of a senate consisted of 32 Muslim senators and 32 Christian senators and for allocating its presidency to the Druze community.

But media reports said the parliament speaker had planned to withdraw this proposal on Sunday and that Lebanese Forces deputy leader MP George Adwan is trying to convince the political parties of an amended version of Berri's proposal.

Berri had warned that he would withdraw his proposal after May 15 -when the next parliament session is scheduled to begin. But, Berri had adjourned the session until May 29.

The Speaker was quoted as saying: “Should no agreement be reached on an electoral law, I will not convene the May 15 session so that extension does not get approved or I be accused of supporting extension” of parliament's term.