Berri Advises Bickering Camps to Meet Halfway, Says he Has Several Electoral Law Proposals
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri advised on Monday the bickering parliamentary majority and the opposition to take advantage of the “golden opportunity” to agree on an electoral draft-law ahead of the 2013 parliamentary polls.
In remarks to several local newspapers, Berri said: “Everyone should drop their negative” attitudes.
He accused lawmakers set to activate the role of the parliamentary electoral subcommittee of lacking patriotism if they failed to reach “positive results.”
The revival of the subcommittee, which is set to meet on January 8, paved way for putting the electoral draft-law on the right track, Berri said.
He stressed he would make at least 10 proposals if the MPs had good intentions to agree on a law during their intense one-week meetings.
Berri said he was even willing to extend the meetings if the discussions required more time, but he warned they would end in failure if the MPs continued to hold onto their own proposals without making any concessions.
The cabinet's bill that set 13 electoral districts based on proportional representation was rejected by the March 14 opposition alliance and the National Struggle Front bloc of centrist MP Walid Jumblat.
Several other laws have been drafted. But discussions reached a dead-end in October when the opposition boycotted all parliamentary activity in the aftermath of the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan.
Last week, it agreed to resume discussions on a new electoral law after reaching an agreement with Berri on a secure location to hold the talks.
The opposition members of the subcommittee voiced their willingness to temporarily stay in a hotel within parliament's security perimeter after they told the speaker that they were fearing for their lives over death threats.
Berri said in his remarks published Monday that the “key” to an agreement between the majority and the opposition lies in drafting a law that gives the ability to each party “to believe that it can win the elections.”
“If we try to come up with a unified formula then we could most probably meet halfway,” Berri told the newspapers.
Highly-informed sources said that among the possible solutions to the dispute is the amendment of a draft-law proposed in 2005 by the Butros Committee which was headed by former Foreign Minister Fouad Butros.
It combines the proportional representation and winner-takes-all systems.
31 December 2012, 11:35
23
Agreed ... Election law reform should be transparent. But show me the government in the world where this is so. It certainly isn't in Asia, Africa, Europe or North America ... some in SA are getting there.
31 December 2012, 11:36
23
Smells like the preservation of the political aristocracy of Lebanon.
31 December 2012, 12:01
13
@ accordionman
Is the word "perks" the diplomatic language for "rackets"? LOL!
31 December 2012, 18:35
00
proportional law is maybe the most democratic as it allows small parties to be represented but is it the worse in terms of governing afterwards as no real majority exist and it is a question of alliances thus the gvt is not free.
the incompetnet lebanese politicians should think in terms of what kind of policy they want for the country? stability for the elected gvt so it can be free to work and thus reform the country or their petty mafia calculations?
they should vote for a law once and for all instead of blocking the country everytime to choose the law that suits them best!
but when they lose they always cry for another law the next time to suit their greed of power.during that time nothing is done for the country!!
they think of themselves and never to the country, shame on them!
and shame on those sheep followers who encourage them to act so! tfeeh
31 December 2012, 21:18
13
Berri's ONLY SOLE interest is to remain in his seat. Everytime the elections get at the door steps he sprints into action attempting to play the middle ground and playing the neautral card, once the elections are over he's back to his old self openning and closing the parliment as if he owns it.
Lets get the elections going, but for the sake of Lebanon do NOT allow this snake back.
