Suleiman Steadfast on Stance from Orthodox Proposal, Vows to Challenge it

President Michel Suleiman stood firm on Monday against the adoption of the Orthodox Gathering electoral draft-law, reiterating that he rejects the postponement of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“I will challenge the Orthodox proposal and I will not back down on my decision... I will challenge it a million times if the parliament approves it,” Suleiman said via twitter.

The president has repeatedly announced his support for a government draft-law that divides Lebanon into 13 districts under a proportional representation system and warned that he would challenge the Orthodox proposal before the Constitutional Council if parliament adopted it.

“I refuse the postponement of the polls... It's still too early to discuss this issue as we still have time to agree on a new electoral law,” the president said.

A consensus over an electoral law has yet to be reached after the Orthodox Gathering's proposal that considers Lebanon a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, was opposed by Suleiman, Miqati, al-Mustaqbal bloc, the PSP, and the independent Christian MPs of the March 14 opposition.

They argue that the proposal harms the social fabric and increases sectarian tension.

Earlier, Voice of Lebanon (100.5) quoted Suleiman as saying that he and Prime Minister Najib Miqati were “serious” when they signed a decree that sets the elections on June 9 “based on the 1960 law or any other electoral law.”

Suleiman and the premier have signed a decree that sets the elections on June 9 based on the 1960 law that was used in the 2009 polls over the lack of agreement between the bickering parliamentary blocs.

Their call have drawn the ire of the March 8 majority coalition which has rejected the law.

“I don't care if we adopt the law of daemons but I will not accept the postponement” of elections, Suleiman said.