Report: Christian Figures Seek to Prioritize Nation in Electoral Law
Several independent Christian figures intend to launch a campaign to persuade politicians and the Lebanese people to adopt an electoral law that focuses on Lebanon as a nation and not on sectarian divisions.
According to An Nahar newspaper published on Friday, the Christian figures will kick off their campaign in the upcoming days and will seek to convince the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki, the rival March 14 and 8 alliances, in addition to the public opinion to “prioritize Lebanon over sectarian” divisions in any adopted electoral law.
The daily pointed out that the officials will hold a wide gathering and gather the signatures of hundreds of figures, activists and leaders on a petition.
The electoral subcommittee members agreed on Wednesday to suspend their meetings in order to allow political factions to hold consultations on a proposal that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems.
The committee will resume meetings on Monday.
Attendees are tackling several proposals among them the Orthodox Gathering draft-law, which calls for each sect to elect its own lawmakers.
The proposal enjoys the support of the Christian four-party committee comprised of the Phalange Party, FPM, Marada Movement, and Lebanese Forces.
However, the draft-law was criticized by President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, the Mustaqbal Movement of ex-Premier Saad Hariri, March 14 Independent Christian leaders and several other figures.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held on Wednesday night between Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and a delegation from al-Mustaqbal comprised of Hariri's advisers Mohammed Shatah and Nader Hariri.
The meeting, according to Shatah, was consultative to coordinate efforts with Bkirki.
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