Hizbullah Bloc Urges 'Broad Govt.', Electoral Law 'Fully Based on Proportional Representation'

Hizbullah's parliamentary bloc on Thursday urged forming a “broad government” that comprises the biggest number of political parties, while reiterating its call for approving an electoral law fully based on the proportional representation system.

“The bloc expresses its hope that the political forces will put their keenness on partnership into effect through enlarging the government,” the Loyalty to Resistance bloc said in a statement issued after its periodic meeting.

Recent media reports have said that President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri want to form a 24-member Cabinet rather than one comprised of 30 members in order to “boost productivity” and rein in the demands of the political parties.

Separately, Loyalty to Resistance called for passing an electoral law for parliamentary polls that would be “fully based on proportional representation.”

The law should also turn Lebanon into a single electoral district or a few enlarged electorates, the bloc said.

Other political parties, especially al-Mustaqbal Movement, have rejected Hizbullah's call for proportional representation, arguing that the party's controversial arsenal of arms would prevent serious competition in regions where the Iran-backed party is influential.

Mustaqbal, the Lebanese Forces and the Progressive Socialist Party have meanwhile proposed a hybrid electoral law that mixes the proportional representation and the winner-takes-all systems. Hizbullah's ally Speaker Nabih Berri has also proposed a hybrid law.

The country has not voted for a parliament since 2009, with the legislature instead twice extending its own mandate.

The 2009 polls were held under an amended version of the 1960 electoral law and the next elections are scheduled for May 2017.