Berri Hints Mission of MPs Studying Electoral Draft-Law Won't End

Speaker Nabih Berri hinted on Wednesday that he would not end the mission of a parliamentary subcommittee tasked with finding common ground on an electoral draft-law, saying its members could continue to meet even if the file was referred to the joint committees.

In remarks to several newspapers, Berri said: “The session held yesterday (Tuesday) was better than its precedents.”

“It will continue its job and its mission will not end,” he said, adding “it can continue to meet along with the meetings of the joint committees if the discussions” on the draft-law were referred to them.

The subcommittee has been trying to hammer out an electoral draft-law only months before the polls. But differences between its rival members from the March 8 majority and March 14 opposition alliances have so far prevented consensus on a text that guarantees a fair representation for all Lebanese sects.

Berri revealed that he received positive reactions to this proposal to hold the parliamentary and senate elections simultaneously.

This proposal “moves Lebanon forward” for allowing the senate elections to be held based on the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal and the parliamentary polls to be carried out without a sectarian quota, he said.

On Tuesday, the speaker expressed approval to electing the senate based on the Orthodox proposal which envisages a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a system of proportional representation.

But said the parliament should be elected based on proportionality and a single district with a division of power between Muslims and Christians but not sects.

In his remarks on Wednesday, Berri reiterated that he was willing to implement his proposal if the other factions agreed.

He revealed that several members of the March 14 opposition alliance among others have called him to announce their support to such a suggestion. “But unfortunately they didn't translate their positive viewpoint to a practical solution.”

The proposal to form a senate and implement administrative decentralization as called for by the Taef Accord was first made by the Progressive Socialist Party of MP Walid Jumblat during the subcommittee meetings last week. But several of its members have said time was short to discuss such measures only a few months before the elections.

In his weekly meetings with MPs, Berri said all parties should cooperate in drafting the electoral law and holding the polls on time.