Aoun Holds onto Orthodox Proposal, Says its Adoption Didn’t Violate Opponents' Rights
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun backed on Wednesday a decision by Speaker Nabih Berri to allow rival lawmakers to reach consensus on an electoral draft-law but he stuck to his support for the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal.
“If there is no other draft-law that would be just for all sects … then there is no problem in going ahead with the Orthodox Gathering proposal,” Aoun said following talks with Berri in Ain el-Tineh.
“Berri is a man of decision. He gives enough time for everyone,” he told reporters.
“But if he finds there is lack of consensus then the proposal that has garnered the majority's support would be implemented,” the FPM chief said a day after the joint parliamentary committees approved the Orthodox proposal, the last step before referring the draft-law to parliament for approval.
Berri stressed in remarks published Wednesday that he was giving time for rival lawmakers to reach consensus on a vote law before calling for a legislative session.
The Orthodox proposal, which calls for a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, has been severely criticized by President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front and March 14 independent Christian MPs.
Aoun, who is also the head of the Change and Reform bloc, said he would respond to the accusations against him in an al-Manar TV interview.
Slamming his critics, mainly the opposition al-Mustaqbal, Aoun said: “We regained our rights without violating the rights of others.”
The FPM has been a staunch backer of the Orthodox proposal which has also garnered the support of its ally in the March 8 majority coalition the Marada movement, and its rivals from the March 14 opposition - the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange Party.
20 February 2013, 14:50
00
the orthodox law is fair if everything in the state go the same way: the presidency the speaker the prime minister....every sect is allowed to have his own president his own army officers......YES TO FEDERATION AND CIVIL MARRIAGE.
20 February 2013, 15:08
02
http://www.karlremarks.com/2013/02/the-onion-to-sue-lebanon-for-making-its.html
good funny read..
20 February 2013, 15:34
22
FT, as much as you love your Aoun, you can't possibly agree that this law makes sense, can you???
20 February 2013, 17:26
01
Thank you arzak- That is hilarious!
Honestly, being Lebanese and seeing all the support this law garners, I'm not sure if I want to laugh or cry.
20 February 2013, 19:08
10
this law violates every Lebanese rights. we want a secular state and this law is just the opposite.
as for the rest theory of FT... BS as usual.
20 February 2013, 15:40
42
Today, I am ashamed to be Lebanese... this country is going backwards because of its leadership. shame shame shame.
20 February 2013, 18:49
01
26 percent under the poverty line with over 50 percent in north lebanon and just under 50 percent for Bekaa. No development. Economy ground to a halt. All of this will be solved with this new law.
20 February 2013, 16:03
13
andre I don't understand you, in one place you say one thing and in other places you say different things, there is no consistancy
20 February 2013, 16:50
00
as long as the parliement seats are based on religion, this law is the best.
Ideally, there should be 134 Lebanese MPs regardless of their religion in a one-district one-MP one-vote concept. Until then, thats the best. Mustaqbal and PSP are loosing seats in this vote hence, they don't want it.
20 February 2013, 23:32
01
http://www.karlremarks.com/2013/02/the-onion-to-sue-lebanon-for-making-its.html
For those of you who don't know,The Onion is a fake news website.
