Hariri Says Country to Devise Vote Law 'Entirely Made in Lebanon'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri hailed the Lebanese officials' efforts to devise a new electoral law, describing it as an unprecedented move since the Taef agreement.

“It is the first time since the Taef agreement that we Lebanese sit together to agree on an electoral law and solve our issues by ourselves,” said Hariri during an Iftar for the economic, banking and industrial bodies on Monday at the Grand Serail.

“In the past, things were imposed upon us, starting with the budget, to the electoral law and the appointments. But after the assassination of my father, everything changed,” he added.

Hariri stressed that meetings are ongoing to achieve a new electoral law, which will be based on proportional representation and 15 electoral constituencies.

Separately, Hariri paid tribute to the Lebanese army and its former commander Jean Qahwaji, for “maintaining security,” and to the governor of the Central Bank Riad Salameh for “maintaining financial stability during the past period.”

Hariri announced that his focus during the coming phase will be on the economy, adding that the government is working on a vast economic project for the country to satisfy people's needs on the level of infrastructure and provide jobs for the youth.