Franjieh: Those who Invented Bizarre Laws Can't Celebrate Approval of Proportional Representation

Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh on Sunday slammed “those who invent bizarre laws” and yet claim victory when an agreement is reached on proportional representation, in an apparent jab at Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil.

“People have a memory. Those who disavowed proportional representation and sought to drop it through inventing bizarre laws cannot consider themselves to be heroes when it gets approved,” Franjieh said during a Marada rally.

He also noted that Marada will have “candidates and friends” in all electoral districts in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Bassil had proposed several so-called hybrid laws that combine proportional representation with the winner-takes-all system, arguing that they would secure better “Christian representation.”

Prime Minister Saad Hariri confirmed Thursday after talks with President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri in Baabda that the political parties have agreed on an electoral law based on full proportional representation and 15 districts and that the law's details would be finalized “before the expiry of parliament's term” on June 20.

“We have agreed on the framework of the electoral law and a committee will address the details and final touches,” Hariri said.