Bassil: Elections Will Not Be Held if 1960s Law is Adopted
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil stressed that the March 8 camp will not be pressured to accept the adoption of the 1960s parliamentary electoral law, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.
He told the daily: “The elections will not be held if this law is adopted.”
He accused the other camp of pressuring the March 8 camp into holding the 2005 elections based on the 1960s law and of attempting to pressure it once again ahead of the 2009 elections.
“We will employ all peaceful means to confront this pressure,” declared Bassil.
He noted that “all Christians” rejected the 1960s law, adding that Bkirki had also voiced its opposition to it.
“We are attempting to protect its position and thwart he pressure,” explained the minister.
The government approved in August a draft electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.
The March 14-led opposition and PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat rejected the law, saying that it does not offer fair representation, but instead favors the March 8 camp.
The top three parties of the March 8 majority alliance “totally rejected” holding the parliamentary polls next year based on the winner-takes-all system of the 1960 electoral law, As Safir reported on Monday.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that a meeting was held between the Hizbullah leader's aide, Hussein Khalil, the assistant of Speaker Nabih Berri, Ali Hassan Khalil, Bassil, who is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, and AMAL's security official Ahmed al-Baalbaki.
The sources said the conferees “totally rejected” the 1960 law and “expressed openness to discuss amendments to a bill approved by the government”.
15 December 2012, 07:31
613
m8 are the ones who insisted on adopting the 1960 electoral law in the previous elections thinking they would win and nasrallah said at the time: let the winner rule :)
distortions of the truth again and again.
15 December 2012, 08:56
612
Maybe he should do his job and try to get the electricity situation resolved before trying to fail at his next job. Baby steps.....
15 December 2012, 09:59
77
If anyone must keep his lid shut then it would have to be the son-in-law Bassil. Not only is this matter already confusing enough but now we have the very mascot of failure trying to tell us what we should do. Mr. Bassil try not to spend your Christmas celebration in candle light. Shameless character this man is, just like his old papa-in-law.
15 December 2012, 10:22
78
whatever the law adopted, a minister from the state saying that elections will not be held because the law doesn t please him is called blackmailing!! and is totally irresponsible from someone supposed to serve the country and not HIS interests....
15 December 2012, 11:26
610
By the way, isn't he supposed to be the minister of energy or whatever, who the hell allows him to comment on elections? Isn't this another case of going out of his juridical responsibilities? Typical Aouni behavior, simple, they still feel they are above criticism and everyone else is crooked, huh.
15 December 2012, 12:04
95
All ministers have a say in future elections, The majority will always swing the next voting areas to suit their party, This is universal. Now after all Mr Bassil is a minister, but what is Geagea's role? He is always complaining how the elections should be formed. I have not seen you once criticize Geagea & why he moans day & night about the new elections. If you would like a decent debate on this forum, I suggest you straighten up Phoenix & attack or credit both sides equally.
15 December 2012, 12:10
65
"what is Geagea's role? He is always complaining how the elections should be formed."
the big difference is that he is not a minister of the state...u see?
as a minister bassil and the others should guarantee that elections be held ON TIME! that is his job as a servant of the law and constitution! if he had any sense of the state...and not his interests!
last elections M8 were desperate to have the 1960 law... now? they cry... lol they just want to find a law that suits their interests not the state s one!
15 December 2012, 12:23
86
Lol peace , you really do make M14 look better every time you post.
You could almost pass as an M8 secret agent, & Phoenix wants me to raise my level of debate with these looney's lol.
Btw peace you just said it for me, Geagea is a non Government official who has no right to interfere in how the state is run or when or how elections should be run. If you lack the IQ to know that every democratic country in the world allows only the ministers to take part in this process, not the electing public or some has been that insists on interfering.. Gr8 post peace love it. keep em coming lol
15 December 2012, 12:30
66
lol roar! so in your opinion no politician from the opposition can give his opinion? waw! you really are for tolerance and talks! the role of ANY opposition is to oppose the gvt , no? LOL so anyone in the opposition can criticize FREELY any gvt no?
but any gvt has to do its job and the FIRST one is to guarantee elections on time....! lol seems you have no knowledge in democracy, no wonder if you praise M8!!!
"If you lack the IQ to know that every democratic country in the world allows only the ministers to take part in this process"
it seems here that your IQ level is lower than mine!!! all ministers of state everywhere guarantee that elections are held ON TIME!!! LOL
no wonder you do not want to discuss with those opposed to you, like a brave little dictator lover you are : you can talk only if you share MY ideas LOL!!! typical M8 nazi guy.... :) see you !
15 December 2012, 12:50
56
So what your telling me peace is that Geagea is a minister? for the Gov or opps? You have lost me lol.. If you think he is a minister of the opps, could you please tell us his position?
15 December 2012, 13:08
74
learn how to read iletterate roar....and stop beating around the bush because you cannot answer with proper arguments... you are right no discussion is possible with you and you narrow mind.
15 December 2012, 10:23
78
This SOB and his demanded boss is trying to ignite a civil war by creating a power vacuum. Go to Hell you, mike and mike's daughter.
15 December 2012, 10:27
106
another hater with not one iota as to why. Just believes his own comments. M14 = hate = clueless.
15 December 2012, 11:28
65
As far as I see it, those you call haters are focusing on the subject being discussed, in this case Minister Gebran, unlike you who is making personal ya The Roar. Elevate you level of debate, and surely you could become part of the good educational process of forum and debates. I avail myself to stand corrected on wherever my opinion is wrong. Thanks.
15 December 2012, 11:55
95
Phoenix I have no interest in elevating my debates with any M14 on this site. Their debates are non linguistic. Take a look at your 1st post, you have only resorted to below the belt bashing without any reference or debate towards the topic. You since have come forth with reasonable debate, which is more customary of you. But I will repeat your 1st post was M14 par excellence.
15 December 2012, 13:44
65
My dear Roar, if anytime anyone criticizes M8 becomes as you said, "below the belt bashing", then how much room would you want to grace us with? By the way, wasn't it Aoun that once categorized everyone against him as below his waist line? Roar, all I'm trying to do is to get us past personal feelings. It is my well considered opinion that many Aounists are intolerant with anyone who wishes to express any opinion that is not music to their ears. I cannot oblige you to change your mind, but I would be pretty eager to accept the encouragements that come from my likes, I have little doubt that we would all benefit. The aim Roar, is this, we are all Lebanese, we all have an obligation to this beloved country of ours. If we see things differently is not necessarily a weakness but rather a strength, it's called variety. Let's just agree to disagree. You have a pleasant weekend with your loved ones.
15 December 2012, 11:26
10
They're holding on with teeth and fingernails to a Law from 1960.
15 December 2012, 13:56
64
(1). This is the stark reality. M8 went for nothing short of a coup d'etat on the M14 governments, took over completely promising one set of reforms after the other and more promises to fix the country. They took over a system that was already in place, did some appealing paperwork knowing all the while that the system could not take all their promises, hoping that the war in Syria will be over within a couple of Tuesdays, then rule Lebanon unchallenged no matter what. Well sad to say this, almost everything they took over is now crumbling, the nation is now in the worst situation ever and in all the cocky arrogance so typical of M8, it still feels that it can wiggle out of the fix they brought onto themselves. Yesterday Bachar's forces spoke of a slight advance on the ground in one of Damascus' suburbs, almost immediately all of M8 went on to claim that the war was now being won by Bachar.
15 December 2012, 17:48
50
Phoenix, M8 have done a superb job under the circumstances.
The war in Stria plus the troublemakers of M14 has made anything good for the country almost impossible. 1 Lebanon's biggest trade route is via Syria. 2 Tourist travel to Lebanon at a rate of almost 50% also via Syria. These 2 factors would have been enough to destroy Lebanon had M14 been in charge at this impossible time.
Add m14 destabilizing efforts at all costs to the Country & you will see that in fact M8 have done a superb job against all odds.
17 December 2012, 10:27
01
The Roar, now you're beginning to worry, at least for your own sake. Did you say for the past 2 years? OK, let's assume you got this right, can you deny that Bachar is on his way out? Ya habibi, the man can't even remove one little village taken by the rebels back to him, with all the support he is getting in the form of weapons, cash and fighters, Bachar is losing ground everyday. Now ya Roar, if you want to deny this fact, then one should worry for you, about how you see things. Yes, Bachar is going out, and soon, and well within the predicted 2 year period. We're now 22 months into this conflict. My best crackers are kept for this occasion, with my best cigars and champagne. I keep a soft handkerchief to wipe your tears and Aboul Mich's when that day comes.
15 December 2012, 13:56
64
(2). Today Bachar lost the little ground he took over yesterday, sorry. M8 has simply made huge miscalculations to say the least. It knew it promised too much, but their boss' reverses in Syria was not anticipated as they felt that he was invincible, destroy a few towns like old Hafez did and cull the revolution before it even batted one eye-brow. Now our system is truly over-laden and under-performing. The economy is in complete shambles due to one silly law after the other, due to one Islamic radicalism opposing the other, and till now M8 still refuses to accept that a dead end is now waiting for them. If we don't criticize them, then what have we done but accept to join into a collective suicide, like what Bachar is now doing to his followers. Just as one wrong cannot fix another, so is the fact that a new radical solution must be found, without either M sides all the better too.
15 December 2012, 18:00
50
I will answer this question when you can explain to me what soon means? For 2 nearly 2 years you have written post after post alerting all to the fact Assad's reign will be over soon. Damn for me 2 years is a long time , not soon at all.
15 December 2012, 14:03
65
(3)And must I remind of all the illicit enrichment that M8 members have delved into and still do so till now? Why can't anyone M8 counter claims about Gebran's huge wealth now? Sure, he's not been around for long as minister, but having amassed such wealth is so short a time is fearful to say the least. Who is trying so hard to expropriate Christian lands to expand Hezbollah's grip on the country? They said Esla7 woul Te5yir, were are they now? Is this what it all stands for? Just how much does M8 try to trip the president's efforts to clam the country down? Who is still trying to derail the country but them in the majority? Why keep refusing the assassinations? I know one thing, we are on the verge of very deep changes soon in the region, those who once felt untouchable will become touchable from head to toe. 2013 will be a difficult year for M8.
15 December 2012, 14:37
55
Bassil: Elections Will Not Be Held if 1960s Law is Adopted
It is simple. If you replace the word "will not" with "should not" then everything would have been right and Minister Bassil would be within his limits as a Minister. But oh how one word changes a person from thinking like a Minister to thinking like a Dictator.
15 December 2012, 14:37
45
Bassil: Elections Will Not Be Held if 1960s Law is Adopted
It is simple. If you replace the word "will not" with "should not" then everything would have been right and Minister Bassil would be within his limits as a Minister. But oh how one word changes a person from thinking like a Minister to thinking like a Dictator.
15 December 2012, 15:18
17
Bassil, sorry for saying this but despite all, you really look retarted
15 December 2012, 15:33
17
Someone with multiple avatars is going to gun you down with his red pen.... 3, 2, 1....
15 December 2012, 16:30
15
Andre don't bother, we all know the name of the old game, multiple aliases, it's a child's game, as old as the cowboy and Indian games, changing hats or feathers to pretend to be someone else. This only reflects intolerance, but hey, look at it this way, when an M14 minded person gets so many reds, it means one thing, we're doing it right.
15 December 2012, 15:47
13
Oh, so you people still have hope in Lebanon if only your favored politicians were in power? So long as your mentalities are sectarian, as the system is sectarian, the country will not progress. That is why I am against most of these parties, for none of them work to abolish the sectarian system.
And those who keep speaking of this notion of "Christian rights" (I come from a Christian family) should drop this sectarian, divisive and mistaken perspective. The more you push for adopting rules that protect a certain sect, the more you will hurt your own sect.
Abolish the sectarian law, and all else will follow.
15 December 2012, 15:50
14
I don't care if it is the 1960s law, or if it's the Orthodox law (which to me isn't any better), both laws are sectarian and divisive. Fair representation is not fair representation of sects, it is fair representation of all Lebanese - it is when an MP is elected and works for all segments of the Lebanese population, and not just one sect.
So long as we allow those sectarian laws to continue, we will continue to witness the rise of radical religious groups, poorer socioeconomic conditions, unaccountable and more corrupt governments.
Such has been the story of Lebanon for the past 50 years, but you all fail to see it, and continue to see Lebanon through a simplistic, childish perspective that the greater powers impose on you.
15 December 2012, 17:42
61
The only thing that will kill Harb is the hair dye. He needs to tone it down a tad lol. As for Batroun elections, Harb should be ashamed of himself, allowing Hariri to send 17,000 Sunni's to be registered in Batroun , just for the sake of winning the election there.
Btw he just fell in, even with 17,000 paid extras. M14 will sell their children for a seat. Just ask Mr Jumblat who at one stage before the last elections,said" why don't you just have my seat" lol
M14 were hounding him day & night to help them gain a seat.
15 December 2012, 20:26
01
Aoun + Bassil = Aounbassil = Imbecile
But are they really? In fact they are both shrewd opportunists who have sought power and wealth by ingratiating themselves with the long-time, and seemingly perpetual, rulers of Lebanon - the Syrian Baath.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever." This eternal fate was reserved to the Lebanese helots by the Pinochets of Damascus. Aoun and Bassil have wagered on the infallibility of dictatorial rule and lost. And yet, even as the boot is being lifted, they tug at the laces and implore perpetual servitude.
17 December 2012, 10:29
01
I saw on FB a picture of Aoun and his nephew Gebran. It was written, General Electric. I loved the depiction, it was a true reflection of things.
