Hamadah Slams Electoral Law Based on Proportionality
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربيةMarch 14 opposition MP Marwan Hamadeh said on Tuesday that the latest debate on a draft electoral law emerged to the surface to “cover up the continues scandals hammering the cabinet.”
Hamadeh slammed in comments published in An Nahar the efforts exerted by Lebanese officials to drop the 1960 law, which was agreed upon by all the political forces in the previous elections.
“The issue will not be able to pass” through the parliament, he stressed.
Hamadeh argued that “the debate on the issue aims at terminating a main political power in the country and weakening it.”
According to An Nahar, the lawmaker held a meeting with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Paris.
The two tackled the local situation and the current discussions on the structure of the March 14 forces.
For his part, Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi told reporters during a press conference on Monday that the debate over the electoral law aims at “getting rid of (Progressive Socialist Party leader MP) Walid Jumblat.”
He said that the adoption of a new law for the 2013 parliamentary elections based on proportionality indicates that the political powers can’t “stand” Jumblat anymore and want to deprive him of his seat in parliament.
Speaker Nabih Berri has continuously voiced his support for adopting an electoral law based on proportionality as Interior Minister Marwan Charbel formulated a proposal that is still being discussed by President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and several other officials.
The options include considering Lebanon a single electoral district on the basis of proportionality, or maintaining the current electoral district division with the possibility of merging the small districts in one on the basis of merging the majority election and the proportional representation systems.
but this law also means that the Christian Majority would be loosing seats in the parliament,in Kesrwan, Jbeil, Metn, Baabda... so why the long faces? and why the refusal of having minorities represented in the parliament? we all know that just like there is a christian and shiaa minority represented by M14 and independants there is a Sunni and Druze minority represented by some M8 and independants, so why no give a chance to everybody, and enhance the christian representation at the same time?
Here we go again... everyone for himself... The Druze leadership are worried that they will get a true representation and have the number of their MPs dwindle... Lebanon will never know democracy... the fear is gripping everyone... And no Lebanese trust another Lebanese of a different religious affiliation... I never voted and never will in any elections... And being stamped a Greek Catholic because my ancestors were and therefor having accept the Maronite domination of the Christian population does not sit well with me either... I have lived and voted in the US for close to four decades and will continue to vote in my adopted homeland...Lebanon is not a country, it is a jungle...
Here we go again... A certain minority sect is worried that the number of his MPs will dwindle and starts to object... True democracy will never prevail in this zip code... I have never voted in this zip code and never will... what is the use...? I am stuck with my Greek Catholic label because my ancestors were of that religious affiliation and resent the fact that only a Christian Maronite is allowed to represent the Christians in various government posts... That makes other Christians second class Christians... That does not sit well with my beliefs...
Answer to Keserweneh: because this is not democracy it is a coalition of sectarian dictatorships that only meet on one principle. Keeping the control of the sect in the hand of one war lord. on the ground the situation for christians is not different except they have two leaders...each one thinking he is the only representant of christians sects
what is wrong with this country is that the so called leaders pride themseleves they are the protectors of their sectes :)
if a so caled maronite(or whatever other secte) is elected, what is he giving his secte? nada. he is filling his pockets and that's it.
so all this BS about laws means nothing.
there are currently more christians elected with the voices from hizbushaitan than any other party, and none is doing anything positive to us, rather they are filling their pockets.
look at all these politicins, they cme in without a penny nd they leave millionnaires.
the poor minded people like the above always fall into their sectarian trap and defend them blindly.
this is what is wrong with this country: the people are shepp who follow such leader blindly.
Proportionality is a good thing allowing better representation in the parliament
I think we deserve better than the existing system that is half a century old
. I do not have high expectations even if the new law is approved however this would represent
A step in the right direction
Proportionality is a good choice - it gives better representation.
However, increasing the size of the district above the Qaza level will diminish the ability of independent local candidates to run for election. Large size districts suits the entranched political parties with their large resources better.
Seems to me large political parties are looking for ways to preserve themselves. Hizbullah could also be afraid that some chiaa indendent candidates might run against them and diminish his representation in parliament.
Just to correct ur data Geha:
only 2 Christian deputies are elcted via shiaa voters (deir el ahmar, marjyoun) while about 6 are elected via Druze voters (shouf and alai)
and 12 are elected via Sunni voters (aakar, tripoli, Beirut, West bekaa)
The Taif Accord (National Accord before it) is every Lebanese's way of saying, "I don't trust myself."