Electoral Subcommittee Holds Crunch Talks, Ghanem Describes Session as 'Positive'
The electoral subcommittee resumed on Wednesday discussions over the new electoral law as several MPs representing the bickering blocs are holding crunch talks in an attempt to reach common ground over the matter.
The subcommittee chairman MP Robert Ghanem described the meeting as “positive,” saying that all members were objective and impartial in their discussions.
Ghanem told reporters after their meeting on Wednesday that the members discussed in detail a proposal by Democratic Gathering bloc MP Akram Shehayyeb on a hybrid draft-law that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems.
He pointed out that AMAL movement MP Ali Bazzi suggested a new proposal during the meeting.
Ghanem reiterated calls on the media to play a “positive” role while covering the deliberations on a new electoral law, noting that “having different points of view are normal.”
He said that the subcommittee will resume its discussions next Monday.
Ahead of the session, Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan told reporters gathered at the parliament that “white smoke will billow next Wednesday as the subcommittee will modify several suggested proposals.”
For his part, Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel pointed out that he will suggest on Monday his proposal on the hybrid electoral law, stressing that it aims at reaching common ground among the rival March 14 opposition and March 8 majority alliances.
“My proposal will not substitute the Orthodox Gathering draft-law,” Gemayel noted.
Hizbullah lawmaker Ali Fayyad pointed out that the subcommittee members agreed on several principles that guarantee a better representation for Christians.
“The subcommittee is exerting efforts and will continue to work seriously,” Fayyad said, pointing out that everything will be clear by Monday.
The subcommittee is currently tasked with discussing the hybrid proposal that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems made by Speaker Nabih Berri, after the joint parliamentary committees extended the mission of the electoral subcommittee.
The subcommittee has discussed several proposals, the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, a draft-law that divides Lebanon into 50 districts based on a winner-takes-all system and a bill referred to parliament by the government and that calls for 13 districts based on proportionality.
The majority of the subcommittee's members have supported the Orthodox proposal which calls for a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
But al-Mustaqbal bloc, from the opposition, and the the Democratic Gathering of centrist MP Walid Jumblat have criticized it and stood firm in favor of a winner-takes-all system.
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