Al-Rahi Says Talks in Moscow Will Discuss 'Regional Peace': Officials Must Step Down if 1960 Law Adopted

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged Lebanese politicians on Tuesday to resign if the 1960's electoral law was adopted in the upcoming elections, pointing out that the talks he will hold with Russian officials during his trip to Moscow will discuss peace in the Middle East.

“We salute Russia's calls for drawing an end to wars in Lebanon, Syria and the region,” al-Rahi said upon his arrival to Moscow.

Before he left Lebanon, the patriarch had called on officials to restore the balance between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon by adopting a new electoral law that enjoys the consensus of the rival March 14 and 8 alliances, rejecting the return to the 1960 law.

Al-Rahi reiterated, in comments to reporters at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, his rejection of the adoption of the 1960s electoral law based on a winners-take-all system, saying: “If they cannot agree on an electoral law other than the 1960 one, they should all step down.”

“I am still convinced that we should find a new electoral law that gathers all the Lebanese and satisfies them,” al-Rahi added.

He urged officials to exert efforts to find a consensual electoral law other than the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal.

“It is forbidden that each side creates a law that better suits it.

Laws must come in favor of the nation and the people,” al-Rahi said as he was heading to Russia on a four-day visit to consolidate ties between the Maronite Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.

The visit comes in light of an invitation by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.

The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the Orthodox Gathering proposal which was approved by the joint parliamentary committees.

It divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

But the proposal has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, the centrist National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

Al-Rahi expressed hope that foes would be able to reach common ground over the electoral law this week.

Media reports said recently that the patriarch will also head to Iraq soon to attend the enthronement of Louis Sako, the new patriarch of the Chaldean church.

Sako will replace Emmanuel III Delly, who retired in December after reaching the age limit of 85 in the Christian church which recognizes the authority of the pope.

Al-Rahi's trip to Moscow and Iraq comes after a two-day visit he made to the capital of Syria, Damascus, earlier this month to attend the enthronement of Greek Orthodox leader Youhanna X Yazigi at the Church of the Holy Cross in Qassaa.