Bkirki Rejects Proportional Representation Based on 13 Districts
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Bkirki spokesman Walid Ghayyad revealed on Tuesday that the seat of the Maronite church rejects the new proportional representation draft law that was approved by the cabinet earlier this month.
“Bkirki rejects the draft law that divided the country into 13 districts because all the Lebanese failed to agree on it,” Ghayyad told al-Joumhouria newspaper.
He pointed out that Bkirki aims at reaching an electoral law that fairly represents all the Lebanese.
“The Bkirki committee will continue to exert efforts to find the appropriate proposal which would be applicable” and approved by all parties, Ghayyad noted.
The committee that is made up of the four major Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange and Marada movement - was formed under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to draft a law that guarantees the best representation for Christians.
However, it failed to agree on an appropriate proposal.
The government’s draft-law that is based on proportional representation and 13 electoral districts was also criticized by al-Mustaqbal movement and the Progressive Socialist Party.
Concerning relations between Bkirki and the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Ghayyad stressed that “there has been no direct contacts between the two.”
He denied that Bkirki has relations with the regime “as Bkirki doesn’t go beyond the state and holds no personal relations with foreign countries.”
Ghayyad told the daily that Christians in Syria are experiencing similar sufferings as the rest of the people.
Many members of Syria's Christian clergy have been supportive of Assad, a member of the minority Alawite community, because of concerns that Islamists could take power in the multi-faith country.
Around 7.5 percent of Syria's 20 million inhabitants are Christian.
28 August 2012, 09:42
35
and bkirki said it :)
the lies spread by fpm are now clear to all :)
this law will not pass.
28 August 2012, 11:05
14
All u people speaking of partition, we are already tiny and smaller than concceticut! What are u talking about??? How? Please explain, makes no sense to me.
28 August 2012, 12:53
34
connecticut is not the reference buddy. There are many countries smaller than connecticut. A few of the most successful countries in the world are hong kong, Singapour, Monaco, lichtenstein, san marino....
What determines how countries are divided is the project of people. The project of christian, druze, most sunnites and some chiites is to build a strong secular state.
The project of some sunnites is to build an islamic state.
And the project of most chiites is to be free of a state, to not have rules, to not have duties, to not pay taxes, to live in a jungle where thugs such as amal and mokdads are kings.
It is not the same project. Hence we should separate.
28 August 2012, 16:36
00
@phoenician, can you please explain how a partitioned Lebanon would survive economically and financially? Which partition would get the Airport? Seaport? Trade routes? Would a resident of Beirut have to get a visa to visit a relative or dear friend in Ajaltoun? How do you envision a partitioned Lebanon would be successful?
28 August 2012, 17:01
12
the west Beirut part would get the airport. Another airport would cost 1B to build. We are already paying 1B a year to EDL to cover for losses due to overstaffing from Nabih berri offshoots and to cover for non payers. Once we remove this weight, it will be a pleasure to build an airport.
The seaport can be made bigger and divided in 2 like during the war.
Both countries would be open to each other, no need for visas.
The HA Lebanon would provide free electricity to everyone, and employ the whole population in state institutions. families would have the right to have military wings, to be used only in emergencies. The mission statement of this country would be to destroy the state of Israel.
The other Lebanon would work hard, have a small gouvernemnt, get 3M tourists per year, get a GDP per habitant on the level of a european nation,encourage private inititive and the rule of law.
28 August 2012, 11:08
44
what is important is that bkirki uncovered the blatant lies of fpm :)
28 August 2012, 11:14
51
@Ramzi
What other alternative do we have we cant even agree on wether we should provide ISF with telecom data regarding the assassination attempt on Harb,what kind of a law abiding government is this??????? Lebanon is a business venture for all politicians to rape the honourable people of Lebanon of their naturel rights,you show me one beach Beirut to Byblos where you could have a swim in without paying?????? Its a disgraceful bunch of robbing Anthropoids.
28 August 2012, 11:19
03
i agree with u about our politicians, esp with the beach issue, that drives me crazy. But fundementally, structurally, what are u talking about? A federal system? States? We are so tiny, it wouldnt really matter! Or are u saying lets have seperate countries? that would b unpatriotic and ludicrous, lets fix rather than give up cause we have differences.
28 August 2012, 12:10
81
@Ramzi
Yes different states,Christians get old Lebanon and devide the rest. As a Christian i am not allowed to visit Christ's birth place because if i do i wont be allowed back to Lebanon,because of who???????? Enough is enough.
28 August 2012, 12:27
16
Who are u to decide@ PHoenician?? I am muslim and would not live in a muslim country. I love my christian countrymen all the same,all my friends are christian, my fiance is christian. What u want me to get a visa to go to gemeyze? The way you are thinking is the essence of our problem, we only think as our religions and not as Lebanese. I would also like peace with israel, I think it would be great for our economy, as long as they dont rape our people and resources, until that happens, I want to be in Lebanon, and maintain a liberal life. Lebanon is not just for you its for all of us. HA being selfish and taking our well being into their hands is not right, doesn't mean u can write off their wrong with another wrong, u basically gave up on all of us :(
28 August 2012, 12:56
63
Ramzi you are not living in lebanon. Are you? If you are, if you dont want to have an islamic state, if you accept the rule of law, than it is our honor to welcome you to live in our part of lebanon, with the same rights of any other person, christian or moslem.
28 August 2012, 16:51
01
@ramzi, I appreciate your courage to debate with sincerity but there are elements in Lebanon that simply are not ready or willing to have that kind of evolved debate. They would rather cut off their own nose to spite their face. You can't reason with that kind of mentality. Lebanon will never be partitioned because it cannot survive in 17 pieces all pulling in different directions. El 3eich el moushtarak is the only solution. Getting rid of fundamentalists from all sides guarantees success. Those elitist Christians who found themselves pushed out to sea, leaving the country in boats would do well to remember, their superiority complex is what led them there. Moderate Muslims and Christians can live side by side in peace, it is a fact!
28 August 2012, 16:59
11
@lebanon_first, I respectfully submit to you that I am deeply offended by your tone and way of thought. It is difficult for me to accept that after everything that's happen to us as a people that a mentality and desire like yours still exists. By the way not every Muslim wants an Islamist state and not every Christian wants to be an Isolationist living on an island. I respectfully suggest that you change you screen name to masi7eh_mouta3asseb_first. The majority of us Christian are moderates who do not identify with your ideology or logic.
28 August 2012, 13:07
05
Yes I do live here, in Ashrafieh and have lived in Lebanon for 17 years. I am appauled at your expectations of other Lebanese. All my Shiaa friends actually hate HA. And all muslims I know( my family included) do NOT want a muslim state. These are paranioas I hope will fiddle away one day. We are not Khaleegees, and there are exaples of liberal muslim dominated countries(turkey) that show respect for all religons including jews. We want the same things, it just saddens me that the radical few have made u give up on what I see as the majority of muslims in lebanon. We want the same things, partition would be a very sad moment, it would = failure for all of us.
28 August 2012, 17:18
11
Ramzi I grew up in Ras Beirut and I know that moslem Beirutis are very moderate, and I beleived firmly to building a state with moslems. I even sympathize with some of HA's arguments. But when I see a bunch of thugs like the mokdads terrorizing the country, lowering the growth rate of Lebanon by a full percentage point, with HA putting a red line on arresting them, it drives me nuts. Where are the chiites? They elected HA to represent them in parliament. WHERE THE F... IS THE CHIITE CIVIL SOCIETY? why dont they talk to their parliamentarian? They elected him, he works for THEM. What about their party leader? Their cheikh? Why dont they make a popular demonstration FOR LEBANON's STATE and go to Berri telling him ENOUGH? This is why christians are becoming extremist, and crave for partition.
28 August 2012, 17:32
01
The majority of them who do not need IRANIAN financial aid are held at gunpoint and against their will, just like the rest of us. And believe me they despise HA more that you and me. The remainder is starved half to death, uneducated and manipulated thru their faith into complete and utter submission. The result, we are all victims of HA and unable to break free.
28 August 2012, 17:36
01
There is never an excuse to become an extremist. Christianity is about leading by example. We show our faith by showing the vastness of our hearts and limitless ability to withstand hardship and overcoming persecution. You do not speak for us sir. Please do not paint us with the same brush that reflects you or the very few who feel like you.
28 August 2012, 17:55
11
Despite all, Lebanon is a democracy. If chiites dont like HA and if they like the logic of the state, they can vote for independant candidates. Let them not elect HA or amal MPs. Let them make a tajammo3 of influential chiite business owners and go to HA asking them to change policy vs the state. Our solution rests in moderate chiite hands. We cant have hariri or gemayel or geagea asking HA to become more patriotic. it has to come from chiite constituents. And if they dont do that, whatever you say, sir, most christians are tired of living in the wild west. They are not willing to withstand hardship and face persecution for a sect that will not ask for its civil rights. They will become extremist and will want partition.
28 August 2012, 19:54
00
Well let's just agree to disagree then. I believe the Shiite are more threatened by HA weapons than the rest of us. At minimum the affluent Shiite families who have financial weight, intellectuals and entrepreneurs are targeted by HA for submission or risk loosing their wealth, freedom, ability to do business, etc. Your insinuation that resolution is as easy as having Shiite rise against HA is a fairy tale, not reality. Even if all of Lebanon with one voice demanded HA surrender its weapons to the legitimate authorities, if cornered it would resort to launching all sixty thousand rockets into Israel before complying. You are being naive about who HA serves and which authority it has to answer to.
28 August 2012, 13:19
15
look @lebanon_first shame on you i am christian, really thanks to welcome ramzy in your part of lebanon, but remember your part isn't mine neither yours, our lebanon is far away from your's gdbye.
28 August 2012, 13:55
13
@Ramzi
I thank God you are the way you are am proud of you Ramzi most of my friends are moderate muslims but we have to wake up and smell the coffee,we have to worry about the fundementalists and they are the majority in government for a REASON they were VOTED in by WHOM? come on Ramzi be realistic my brother read the following verses from Koran:surah Maidah 51, surah tubah 5,29. Thats what fundementalists believe in.
28 August 2012, 17:23
12
Our own bible is full of verses that belong to another time just like the Koran has verses that belong to another time. Granted there are evil regimes who have hijacked Islam and subjugated the faithful and exploited their famine and lack of education to achieve its goals but to make the Lebanese debate about Christian vs Muslim and vice versa reveals a dark desire to revive sectarian hatred. The Party of God is no more Muslim than I am the queen of England. They are simply an Iranian proxy serving the struggle between Iran and Israel and the Koran is the vehicle they are using to twist the minds of the faithful. I'll say it again, moderate Muslim and Moderate Christians live side by side in peace every single day, that is a fact...shame on anyone who makes this debate about faith.
28 August 2012, 18:02
01
phoenician, I agreed with you until on your first point. But your second point is the opinion of some fundamentalists. It does not represent what moslem lebanese think. The problem of chiites is not fundamentalism. IT IS INERTIA. LET THEM MOVE GOD DAMN IT. They are being instructed what to think like sheep by HA! They should THEMSELVES dictate policy to HA, or at least negotiate a compromise between what Iran (or HA) want, and what chiite lebanese want.
28 August 2012, 21:19
01
People you are all excused in advance for calling me a sectarian Maronite, so let's put that out of the way.
My biggest concern is the revival of the Christians in Lebanon. By revival I mean the return of the hundreds of thousands of Christians who left the country from the 70's on.
The Christian identity of Lebanon is being gradually depleted and one must be in denial to deny this.
I am not arguing for the resurgence of the Christian community at the expense of other lebanese sects, but I am saying that in the foreseeable future, the number of Christians will drop below the critical mass that is needed to insure a survival of our culture. This trend must be reversed immediately.
28 August 2012, 21:19
01
Continued...
The solution is hardly partition, but rather something resembling a federation where cantons have strong autonomy. Let the Christians and Muslims decide on their own respective internal affairs and leave foreign policy and defense of the borders to the federal state.
Rewrite the constitution to enshrine the right to self-governance for every canton. Let every canton have its own constitution as long at it is harmonized with the federal constitution. This way the Christian parties would be free to disagree and compete within the framework of the constitution of the Christians cantons. Ditto for the Muslim state. Abolish all sectarianism at the federal level. Christians would feel more secure with a non-Christian president when they are free manage their affairs and the canton-level. Just a thought.
28 August 2012, 22:38
00
@ jabal. it wont work. unfortunately.
1- Problem nbr 1 with cantons is foreign policy. We want to live in peace. They want to liberate Chebaa, Jerusalem, and the Hormuz straight.
2- Problem nbr 2 is security. The armed wing of mokdads will cross to christian canton, and kidnap people. Cant do anything about it, because there would be a federal "red line"
3- Problem nbr 3 is employment in state organisations. Berri would stuff the federal administration with underemployed people from his sect, having us pay for them.
I prefer to try to live together. If in 2, 3 years it doesnt work, a full partition.
29 August 2012, 04:24
01
The committee that is made up of the four major Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange and Marada movement - was formed under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to draft a law that guarantees the best representation for Christians.
this is my favorite part of the whole article. how in the world is the marada movement one of the four major christian parties? it has 2 members of parliament, an illiterate leader and found in zghorta only.. this is a joke...
