FPM Delegation Tells al-Rahi Electoral Draft-Law in Favor of Christians

A Free Patriotic Movement delegation led by Energy Minister Jebran Bassil informed Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi that an electoral draft-law approved by the cabinet earlier in the week would lead to a good representation of Christians, An Nahar daily reported on Saturday.

The delegation, which also included Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, told al-Rahi on Friday that the draft-law guarantees the election of 14 new MPs through the votes of Christians, upping the number of Christian lawmakers elected by members of the same sect to 48, the newspaper said.

The visit came after two of the four Christian parties represented in a committee established by the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkirki severely criticized the draft-law approved by the government of Premier Najib Miqati that includes 10 Change and Reform bloc ministers.

Both the Phalange party and the Lebanese Forces that are part of the March 14 opposition coalition said the draft is not in harmony with agreements reached during the meetings of the Bkirki committee, which had been set up to make a proposal on a draft-law that guarantees the best representation of Christians.

Kanaan told Voice of Lebanon radio station (100.5) that the committee should meet to assess the draft-law and introduce some amendments to it for approval by parliament.

According to the opposition, the cabinet’s draft that is based on proportional representation and 13 districts, has shoved Lebanon into a danger zone that seeks to give stronger powers to the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance that makes up the majority of the government.

The Phalange and the LF said the Bkirki committee had agreed on forming smaller districts with maximum three MPs each.