Al-Rahi Says 'Shameful' to Ignore Fundamental National Causes
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Sunday Lebanese politicians for failing to agree on fateful issues such as a new electoral draft-law ahead of the polls next year.
“It's a shame … that political parties have suspended (attempts to find) solutions to fundamental national causes such as a new electoral draft-law other than the 1960 law, the formation of a new cabinet and holding elections on time,” al-Rahi said in his sermon.
The parliament has yet to agree on a draft-electoral law. Deep divisions between the March 8 parliamentary majority and the March 14 opposition alliance have prevented both camps to draft a law or amend a bill approved by the government in August which divides Lebanon into 13 districts and is based on proportionality.
Al-Rahi has totally rejected the 1960 law, which adopts the qada as an electoral district and is based on a winner-takes-all system. It was used in the 2009 parliamentary elections after a partial amendment.
A dissociation policy announced by President Michel Suleiman means the respect of the sovereignty of other nations and noninterference in their local affairs with the support of certain parties, the patriarch said.
“This is rejected because it only brings evil, crises and divisions to Lebanon,” al-Rahi stressed.
16 December 2012, 14:12
15
with all due respect Cardinal.. the only fundamental national cause at the moment is WEAPONS.. and any that are not in the control of the state. Let us take care of that first, and then we can take care of the other minor details where everyone is forced to sit and talk to the other on a level playing field.
16 December 2012, 18:12
12
Honestly, I wish ALL religious figures would stay out of politics. When both intersect, it is almost always bad for the people and the nation. For examples, see the Taliban, the Spanish Inquisition, the Dark Ages in Europe and other shameful practices currently and in history which use religion to discriminate against women and other groups.
17 December 2012, 08:55
11
I don't have a problem with religion nor the charitable causes they have embarked on throughout history. Those are a good thing. Religion does a great job when it is small. The problems occur when they get big. The Spanish killed tens of millions of native Americans in the name of bringing religion to the savages, while at the same time stealing their gold. Look at what the Taliban have done. The main issue is that religions are run by men who are corrupted by power. When they stay small, the risk of corruption lessens.
