Hariri Voices Support for Civil Marriage, Suggests Small-Districts Electoral Law, Senate Representing Sects
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday called for electing a senate representing the various Lebanese sects according to the Orthodox Gathering's proposal and a parliament based on small districts, in the first TV interview in almost a year.
In an initiative he launched during an interview on LBCI, Hariri said that a “real solution” for the concerns of Christians would be “holding elections on time under an electoral law based on small electoral districts -- which would ensure proper representation for all regions, groups and religious communities -- and creating a senate that represents all religions and sects in Lebanon as stipulated by the Taef Accord.”
The creation of the senate would happen “after making a constitutional amendment that suspends the clause on abolishing political sectarianism for a period of time accepted by all parties,” Hariri added.
“Through this senate, the religious communities would perform an essential constitutional duty relating to protecting Lebanon's identity, role, cultural message and coexistence,” the ex-PM said, adding that the senate would enjoy veto power concerning resolutions relating to these principles.
Hariri's initiative also calls for “addressing the chronic complaints of all Lebanese regions and groups concerning developmental and administrative obstacles by immediately implementing Taef Accord's stipulations relating to expanded administrative decentralization.”
It also calls for “adding the Baabda Declaration to the preamble of the constitution.”
“A senate would justly represent religious communities and address Christian concerns, which the 1960 law failed to do,” Hariri said.
“Continuous dialogue with our allies is essential, and I have discussed with Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel (on Monday) many issues on the Lebanese scene, including the upcoming elections,” he added.
Asked about his relation with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, whom he met on Tuesday in Paris, Hariri said: “Jumblat is a friend and he stood by us after the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri and we cannot forget that he was an important member of the March 14 coalition.”
Commenting on the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law, under which each sect would elect its own representatives, Hariri said: “The image of Christian-Muslim co-existence marked the beginning of my political career and we cannot give this up.”
“We have a responsibility as politicians and we cannot deny that both Christian and Muslim communities have concerns,” he added.
“Extremism in the country has developed out of a feeling of injustice. Possessing weapons and becoming extremists will not do any good while moderation is essential,” Hariri went on to say.
“I understand Christians' concerns but we have to deal with them in a moderate way,” he stressed, while admitting that “there is a real problem in the current representation of Christians.”
But the former premier added that “it is our duty to preserve Lebanon's unity and to prevent disintegration and division.”
He noted that President Michel Suleiman was “the first person to reject the Orthodox Gathering's proposal and he was talking out of his belief in the best interest of all Lebanese people.”
“We have the same position as President Suleiman regarding the Orthodox proposal,” Hariri added.
“We want true representation and we reject the Orthodox draft because it differentiates between Muslims and Christians, which is a disgrace,” he went on to say.
“True representation would not be achieved by dividing Lebanon and abandoning March 14's image of united communities. If we are really serious about communities' concerns, establishing a senate is a must,” Hariri explained.
He noted that Speaker Nabih Berri is “playing a national role” and that the Mustaqbal Movement is “ready to give sacrifices but not at the expense of Lebanon's interest.”
Commenting on the various points of view in the March 14 camp on the issue of the electoral law, Hariri said: “We must take into consideration that there are different viewpoints in the March 14 coalition, as it is formed of parties and independent figures.”
He added that while “70 MPs will vote in favor of the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law, it will face the veto of President Suleiman, PSP leader Jumblat and Mustaqbal.”
Asked what the March 14 camp would do if it won the 2013 elections, Hariri said: “We will extend our hand to the other camp but there will be no one-third veto power in the upcoming government.”
Answering another question, Hariri added: “I did regret my visit to Syria, but I went there for the sake of Lebanon.”
“I will return to Lebanon soon but it's up to me to decide on the exact moment,” he said. Asked if that would happen before the elections, Hariri replied: “Inshallah (God willing).”
On the conflict in Syria, Hariri said: “It is a revolution and we have no doubt that it is the same regime that has been killing Lebanese figures since the assassination of Kamal Jumblat.”
“The Syrian regime will fall soon and this will reveal the secrets behind all assassinations and crimes,” he added, noting that “the same killers assassinated both Rafik Hariri and Wissam al-Hasan, and the latter was murdered for uncovering the Michel Samaha-Mamlouk plot.”
“If Assad had a grain of sanity he would have left Syria. It is a corrupt and murderous regime and the Syrian people will emerge victorious,” said Hariri. “Assad's corrupted regime fights and kills its own people while it does not stand up to Israeli violation of Syrian airspace,” he added.
He noted that “it is a humanitarian and ethical duty to stand by the Syrian people and this is what MP Oqab Saqr is doing.”
Asked about the controversial topic of legalizing civil marriage in Lebanon, Hariri said: “Labeling people as apostates is not acceptable and addressing civil marriage in the approach (Grand) Mufti (Sheikh Mohammed Rashid) Qabbani took is also rejected.”
“Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey are all Islamic countries that adopt civil marriage. Will Qabbani consider their people apostates?” Hariri asked rhetorically.
“The mufti's remarks are unacceptable and I would say the same thing if he was in our political camp,” he added.
“There is a dispute over civil marriage in Lebanon, but there are young men and women who want to wed in a civil marriage. My personal stance is that there must be civil marriage in Lebanon, but we must first reach an agreement,” said Hariri.
"Personally I do not accept that my children marry in a civil union, but a deputy is a representative of the entire nation and of all people," he stressed.
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