MPs Continue Discussions on Electoral Law as Alain Aoun Warns of 3rd Extension of Parliament's Term
The joint parliamentary committees continued on Wednesday their discussions on the electoral draft-laws, with lawmakers describing the talks as “the most serious to date.”
The talks mainly focused on the hybrid and proportional representation draft-laws.
Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad reiterated his rejection of the 1960 electoral law and the possibility of extending parliament's term for a third time.
“The worst thing we can do is hold the elections based on the 1960 law,” he told reporters at parliament.
Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun revealed that some lawmakers at the joint parliamentary committees have started discussing the possibility of extending parliament's term for a third time.
He said that the recent municipal poll results are serving as a motivation for the extension.
The Change and Reform bloc had twice refrained from voting in favor of the extension of parliament's term.
The extension took place the first time in 2013 and a second time in 2014. They were prompted by the political powers' failure to agree on a new electoral law.
The move sparked outrage in Lebanon.
Speaker Nabih Berri had launched an initiative recently aimed at ending the impasse. He called for shortening the term of parliament and that the elections be held based on the 1960 law should political forces fail to agree on a new electoral one.
He also called for staging the presidential elections after the parliamentary ones and forming a national unity government.
The joint parliamentary committees are set to meet again on Tuesday, announced deputy Speaker Farid Makari.
He revealed that lawmakers at the talks delved for the first time into the details of the distribution of MPs and electoral districts.
Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan said after the meeting: “The Lebanese people yearn for change and the rotation of power, which has been lacking in the wake of the extension of the term of parliament.”
“Staging the elections based on the 1960 law is an indirect form of the extension of the term of parliament.”
“The adoption of this law is tantamount to the extension of corruption. We are therefore faced with either adopting a new electoral law or prolonging the current crisis.”
“Given this reality, we are seeking to achieve change through the joint parliamentary committees or through the parliament bureau. These options will put everything out in the open. We can no longer continue with this current situation,” he declared.
Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat told reporters: “Our stance has not changed regarding the electoral law. The 1960 law is behind us and we seek the adoption of the hybrid law.
“We will continue to reject the electoral law based on proportionality as long as illegitimate arms remain spread throughout the country,” he said in reference to Hizbullah's weapons arsenal.
Alain Aoun later called for popular pressure to force lawmakers to seek political change.
“This action should take place now, not a month before the parliamentary polls.”
M.T.
D.A.
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