Saniora: Mustaqbal Maintains Position on Orthodox Law, March 14 Will Reject Proportional Representation
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Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora restated on Monday his rejection of the Orthodox Gathering's electoral law, adding that the bloc's lawmakers do not mind discussing the proposal suggested by the March 14 Christian parties.
"The bloc's decision is based on the values stated in the Taef accord and on our belief in fair representation and freedom of choice,” Saniora explained during an interview with MTV.
The former PM's comments come after the Christian four-party committee on the elections' law agreed on Sunday to endorse the electoral system proposed by the Orthodox Gathering, under which each sect would elect its own lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the March 14 opposition Christians had reached an agreement with al-Mustaqbal on a plan to divide Lebanon into 50 small-sized districts based on a winner-takes-all system and referred it to parliament.
Saniora revealed that March 14 forces also lean towards rejecting the proportional representation.
"This law is complex and we need more time to convince the Lebanese people of accepting it,” he explained, adding that this proposal was supposed to be discussed in the parliament two and half years before the elections.
The lawmaker said: “The biggest challenge for the majority that wins the elections is to act for the interest of all Lebanese and not as a force opposing other parties in the country,” expressing that “the current majority is not taking into consideration the concerns of the March 14 forces”.
Saniora also revealed during his interview with MTV that former PM Saad Hariri will return to Lebanon soon and will take part in the parliamentary elections.
"I support Hariri's nomination to head Lebanon's next cabinet,” he remarked.
The electoral subcommittee is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to discuss the law to be adopted in the upcoming elections.
After boycotting the cabinet's work and the national dialogue sessions following the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan on October 19, the March 14 opposition announced that it will accept Speaker Nabih Berri's proposal of residing in a hotel near the parliament building in downtown Beirut as a safety precaution to participate in the electoral subcommittee's talks.
08 January 2013, 00:38
17
the only losers in the election to come are the lebanese citizens...
08 January 2013, 03:34
21
Yes....
Mmmmmm the_roar predicted this outcome! So time for us Christians to join forces, make lebanon into federations ... At least in our areas we can do whatever we want and prosper .. While those who want to fight enemies can do so in their areas
08 January 2013, 03:56
24
Flamethrower. HA and Amal will not oppose the the orthodox law cause they will only lose one mp (michel Moussa). While fm and jomblatt will lose over 20 Christian mps combined. So let The people know who the future movement truly is......nothing but a facade for the salafists
08 January 2013, 03:56
25
Flamethrower. HA and Amal will not oppose the the orthodox law cause they will only lose one mp (michel Moussa). While fm and jomblatt will lose over 20 Christian mps combined. So let The people know who the future movement truly is......nothing but a facade for the salafists
08 January 2013, 04:12
25
Well, I like Sheikh Saad very much but I don't want to have him as PM again unless he becomes stronger and punches his father's killers in the face. I want him to be firm and decisive. Above everything, I want justice for Lebanon, I want to assassins to be tried,
08 January 2013, 07:45
00
does anyone know exactly who votes for who?
i mean since Sunni vote for Sunni, and Shia vote for Shia, etc... is the Christian community also subdivided? do Maronites vote for Maronites? and Orthodox vote for Orthodox? and so on?
08 January 2013, 08:23
00
agree roar... as sectarian as the law is.. in a country like Lebanon and until we move beyond the pathetic sectarian mentality this would probably be the best law for accurate representation according to the taef... but again.. and i am not sure if you can answer me.. is the Christian community subdivided as the Muslims are?
what i mean is, and from what i understand about the law... Sunnis will vote for Sunni MPs.. Shia for Shia Mps.. Druze for Druze... etc...
but do the Maronites only vote for the Maronite MPs?? and the Orthodox the Orthodox MPs?? Catholic for the Catholic?? etc?? or do all Christians vote for all Christian MPs??
08 January 2013, 07:41
32
while you boyfriends, hasoon, aoun, bashar, berri, among others deserve to be on the cover of playgirl???
08 January 2013, 10:42
11
@ azrak every MP will be elected by it's own community: maronites will elect maronites,same goes for greek orthodox , minorities....
08 January 2013, 10:45
11
So again Future shows its true colors, they will refuse any law that will hinder their hegemony over the 16 Christian MPs and will allow other Sunni leader to arise. In any proportional law the Future mvt will retake its true size regardless of the shape of the districts and this is why he refuses it
08 January 2013, 10:46
11
btw ft you were wrong: HA and Amal accepted the law following the request of FPM and Bkerkeh, this is what I call true acceptance of the other. Let Future show their true dictatorship colors
08 January 2013, 12:35
12
Error, if you want to know Future's motives, check with the Saudi embassador. Cut the middle man out.
08 January 2013, 18:54
00
http://ginosblog.com/2013/01/07/the-orthodox-law-and-why-its-like-being-stuck-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/
Well written !!
08 January 2013, 20:03
10
So much sectarian talk! 3al ases every1 here is against that. Instead of a law that makes Christians stronger, why not a law that makes all religions weaker?
