Al-Mustaqbal Indecisive as its Allies Decide Not to Boycott Next Meeting on Electoral Law

Al-Mustaqbal MP Jamal al-Jarrah said Monday that his parliamentary bloc hasn't yet decided whether it would participate in the meeting of joint committees on a new electoral draft-law despite the announcement of two of its allies that they would not boycott the session.

“Al-Mustaqbal hasn't yet made up its mind on the participation in the joint parliamentary committee meetings,” al-Jarrah told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

The March 14 opposition alliance, which al-Mustaqbal is a leading component, boycotted all government-related activity in October after it blamed the cabinet for the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan.

But Speaker Nabih Berri's invitation for the joint committees meeting on Wednesday, left the bloc in limbo as its allies in the March 14 coalition - the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange - said they would take part in the talks.

LF MP George Adwan and Phalange lawmaker Sejaan Azzi announced on Monday the participation of their blocs in the meetings over their decision not to boycott any session linked to the electoral draft-law.

Berri's invitation came only a few days after a parliamentary nine-member subcommittee, made up of March 8 majority and March 14 MPs, failed in several rounds of talks to agree on an electoral draft-law.

Despite al-Jarrah's remarks, al-Mustaqbal sources told An Nahar daily that the bloc's MPs will not participate in Wednesday's meeting in line with its boycott of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government.

The sources hinted that the lawmakers would participate in the meetings if cabinet representatives do not attend.

They told As Safir newspaper that the Lebanese will have to wait for the bloc's weekly meeting on Tuesday to find out its final stance.

Miqati confirmed following talks with Berri on Sunday that several ministers will attend the sessions.