LF Suspends Participation in Electoral Subcommittee, Calls for a General Assembly Meeting
The Lebanese Forces suspended on Tuesday its participation in the electoral subcommittee until a parliamentary session is scheduled to vote on a new draft-law.
LF MP George Adwan told reporters after a meeting for the committee at the parliament that “the subcommittee is only passing time until a settlement is reached regarding the presidential post.”
He lashed out at the rival parties at the committee, pointing out that whenever a breakthrough is reached new proposals are presented.
Adwan called on the rival parties to head to the parliament to vote on a new electoral law whether a breakthrough is reached or not.
The LF MP said that “only the hybrid electoral law can better represent all parties.”
“We refuse to fool people and if there are any intentions to adopt a new electoral law we are the most enthusiastic,” Adwan added.
The subcommittee is discussing several proposals, the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, a draft-law that divides Lebanon into 50 districts based on a winner-takes-all system, in addition to the hybrid suggestion made by Speaker Nabih Berri.
The 11-member parliamentary subcommittee tasked with discussing several electoral law proposal kicked off meetings recently, in light of the extension of the parliament’s tenure, in an attempt to reach consensus over a hybrid electoral draft-law.
The March 8 and 14 alliances are represented in the committee, which was granted a one-month ultimatum by Berri to reach consensus.
In May 2013, the parliament voted to extend its own mandate for 17 months after the rival political parties failed to reach a deal on a new electoral law other than the one based on 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system.
Lawmakers also deepened the political deadlock in the country after they voted once again in November to delay elections and announced they would extend their mandate until 2017, which was met by a huge popular dismay.
Most blocs have announced their rejection to the 1960 electoral law that is based on a winner-takes-all system. It was used in the 2009 elections.
H.K.
M.T.
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