Ghanem Urges Election of President for Breakthrough on Electoral Law

MP Robert Ghanem, head of the electoral subcommittee, stressed on Saturday that the elections law will not be adopted before the election a new president, who should have certain characteristics.

Ghanem expressed hope in an interview with An Nahar newspaper that the rival parties reach a settlement over the presidential deadlock, considering that the subcommittee's meetings are to facilitate any parliamentary session set to vote on an electoral law immediately after the election of a new head of state.

The MP, who is affiliated to the March 14 alliance, stressed that the political arch-foes are represented in the subcommittee, which facilitates the adoption of an electoral law at the general assembly.

Ghanem expressed belief that the subcommittee will resume its meetings after the holidays, “if certain conditions were available.”

On Tuesday, the Lebanese Forces suspended its participation in the electoral subcommittee until a parliamentary session is scheduled to vote on a new draft-law.

Ghanem remarked that the Lebanese parliament cannot endorse any electoral law in the absence of a head of state even if the rivals agreed on a draft-law.

He described the LF stance as “political,” saying that he understands their position.

The subcommittee is discussing several proposals, the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, a draft-law that divides Lebanon into 50 districts based on a winner-takes-all system, in addition to the hybrid suggestion made by Berri.

The 11-member parliamentary subcommittee tasked with discussing several electoral law proposal kicked off meetings recently, in light of the extension of the parliament’s tenure, in an attempt to reach consensus over a hybrid electoral draft-law.

The committee was granted a one-month ultimatum by Berri to reach a breakthrough over the thorny matter.

The new parliament should approve a new electoral law and issue a decree that shortens its term after it was extended to 2017.

The parliament extended its term in November until June 2017 despite the boycott of the Free Patriotic Movement and Kataeb MPs.

Most blocs have announced their rejection to the 1960 electoral law that is based on a winner-takes-all system. It was used in the 2009 elections.

Ghanem told An Nahar that there's a “certain profile” for the upcoming president that “it seems to apply on me and others.”

“If they were seeking the election of a consensual president, who has a seat at the parliament and enough political experience, they might find several officials, including Robert Ghanem.”

Media reports said recently that the director of the department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry, Jean-François Girault, who visited Lebanon earlier this month, has raised a profile of the next president very much close to that of MP Ghanem.

The reports said that the French official based his suggestion on the lack of chances for Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun to reach the presidency, which presses the necessity to find another candidate without requiring a constitutional amendment.