March 14 Holds Onto Rejection of Proportionality over 'Hegemony of Arms'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The March 14 opposition alliance reiterated its rejection of a system based on proportional representation in the 2013 parliamentary elections over what it called the “hegemony” of Hizbullah's weapons.
“We reject proportionality over the hegemony of arms which cripple this system in areas under (Hizbullah) control and mainly Baalbek-Hermel and the South,” al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Ahmed Fatfat told al-Liwaa newspaper published Monday.
“Under these circumstances, proportionality is not good,” he said in other remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).
Fatfat, who is a member of a parliamentary electoral subcommittee that is set to meet on January 8, said the March 14 coalition has a proposal made by the Phalange and Lebanese Forces parties.
The proposal adopts 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system unlike a government bill that divides Lebanon into 13 districts and is based on proportionality.
The subcommittee, which was formed in October, is tasked with studying the number of lawmakers, the type of the electoral system and the distribution of electoral districts, the MP said.
Recent reports said that the subcommittee’s members could reach an agreement on 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.
But in his remarks to VDL, Fatfat rejected the proposal given that proportionality would not be fair in the presence of arms.
Sources in the opposition also told An Nahar daily that the Butros Committee's plan requires amendments over the changes in the political situation since 2005.
31 December 2012, 11:24
12
All districts in Lebanon are awash in weapons. Should M14 want to change the situation they should rejoin parliament as there are other elements in the majority government that also want control over deadly force in government hands ...
March 14 continuing to slander and provoke March 8 only proves that it a would be a serious mistake for Hezbollah to disarm. In the meantime Hariri and others have their own armed contingents and militias. Agreements will only come from trust which M14 undermines everyday.
31 December 2012, 14:53
22
everyone might have some machine guns and a few rpg's but no one has a trained Militia with over 50,000 rockets. no one has a militia stronger than the army other then H.A. so plz stop being in denial. one more thing ppl started buying weapons in all districts after H.A used their weapons on Lebanese ppl in 2008 and invaded neighborhoods in Beirut and other areas!
31 December 2012, 15:11
11
HA is hardly going to use rockets on Lebanon. As far as 2008 reports were that the US and the Saudis were trying to weaken and disarm Hezbollah ... $60 million was given to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces at the Interior Ministry to confront Hezbollah which is why there were battles between HA and the Armed Forces.
2008 conflict in Lebanon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_conflict_in_Lebanon
31 December 2012, 15:46
21
i don't how you remember it, but lebanese armed forces did not confront H.A in 2008! you are in huge in denial.
31 December 2012, 12:09
13
The old excuses are like comfortable bed slippers ... they keep the public dialog in the traditional, exploitable frame of reference.
31 December 2012, 14:55
21
so when an explosion happens in the south and hezbollah members block access to the press,polics,and firefighters until they are done "investigating", does that mean the goverment has control over the south or hezbollah?!? and without a militia with a lot of weapons this wouldn't be happeing!
