Jumblat: Circumstances aren’t Suitable to Adopt Proportional Representation

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat believes that adopting proportional representation for the parliamentary elections will be employed politically by the rival political camps given the sharp divide in the country, prominent parliamentary sources told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat Wednesday.

They stressed that the MP supports reforming the electoral law.

They explained however that this representation will enable one side to “overpower the other therefore stripping it of its reform qualities.”

“Jumblat is not like some sides who employ slogans of reforming the electoral law in order to intimidate others,” the sources added.

“The PSP leader is apprehensive of the timing of the adoption of proportional representation because some sides view it as the easiest way to filter the people on the sectarian level,” they stated.

They therefore predicted that the MP would support the current electoral law until the circumstances in the country allow for proportional representation to be adopted.

“The adoption of the law cannot be possible without resuming dialogue, especially between Shiites and Sunnis,” the sources said.