Alain Aoun: We Will Resume Bkirki Committee Proceedings at Patriarch's Request

Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun reiterated on Saturday the Free Patriotic Movement's decision to no longer take part in the Bkirki committee discussions on reaching an agreement on a new parliamentary electoral law, reported An Nahar daily on Sunday.

He said: “We will return to the committee if Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi requested it.”

“The manner in which the discussion are made should be changed if any side decides to retract their commitment to any agreement,” he added.

“The retraction of the agreement over an electoral law based on proportional representation led to the disruption of the committee's work,” he remarked.

“We may reconsider our position if a new development takes place that requires our presence,” continued Aoun.

“Once that happens, then the patriarch knows what to do,” he stated.

“The members of the Bkirki committee have contradicted their commitment to the agreement reached during our meetings,” said the MP.

“We will decide our next step once we are informed of what the Lebanese Forces, Phalange Party, and independent MPs propose over the electoral law,” he revealed.

The MP had announced on September 12 the FPM's suspension of its participation at the talks after “the LF and Phalange Party backed down from their commitment to the electoral law based on proportional representation after the Mustaqbal and Progressive Socialist Party voiced their opposition to it.”

“The LF and Phalange Party are entitled to back down from previous commitments, but they have to acknowledge it,” said Aoun during a press conference.

He accused the two parties of “squandering an historic opportunity for Christians to improve their representation at parliament.”

The cabinet approved in August a draft-law that divides the country into 13 medium-sized districts based on proportional representation.