Al-Rahi: It's Shameful that Politicians Have Been Incapable of Approving New Electoral Law

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Thursday the political authority in Lebanon for failing to approve a new parliamentary electoral law, reported the National News Agency.

He said before a delegation from the Bekaa city of Zahleh: “It is shameful that the politicians have been incapable of reaching an agreement over a new law.”

“The elections are expected to be held this year and the Lebanese people are in need of a law that meets their aspirations,” he stressed.

The government approved in August an electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.

It was rejected by the March 14-led opposition and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

The parliamentary subcommittee aimed at discussing the law is scheduled to convene on Tuesday in order to continue studying a new proposal.

Commenting on the Syrian crisis, al-Rahi remarked: “The refugees flooding Lebanon is the country's greatest humanitarian, social, and national problem.”

“Lebanon should remain neutral and a meeting point for Muslims and Christians,” added the patriarch.

“Lebanon is a source of peace, not war and weapons,” he continued.

On this note, he said that officials “are required to return to the national dialogue,” hoping that peace and security would return to Lebanon and the Middle East.

Over 60,000 people have been killed since the eruption of anti-regime protests in Syria in March 2011, announced the United Nations on Wednesday.

A number of Syrians and Palestinians have since fled the unrest to neighboring countries.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in December, 170,637 Syrian refugees have been registered in Lebanon.

Some 10,000 Palestinian refugees have also poured into Lebanon since regime forces targeted the Yarmuk refugee camp in Syria.