Geagea: FPM Must Convince Allies of Orthodox Gathering Law or Adopt Small Districts

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday called on the Free Patriotic Movement to seek its allies' approval of the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering -- under which each sect would elect its representatives -- or else endorse the electoral law proposed by March 14's Christians, which is based on 50 small electorates.

“We were among those who suggested amending the electoral law because the current law does not ensure proper representation and this is what several parties are saying,” Geagea said at a press conference he held in Maarab.

“The law that ensures proper representation is the Orthodox Gathering law, which is in line with the Taef Accord that stipulated equal power-sharing between Christians and Muslims. But this proposal was met with fierce objections, that's why we discussed a better system, which is the small electorates law because it also ensures proper representation,” Geagea added.

During a meeting held under Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday in Bkirki, the Christian four-party committee on the electoral law agreed to endorse the electoral system proposed by the Orthodox Gathering.

The panel comprises representatives from the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange Party and the Marada Movement.

“The FPM agreed with the government on a law based on proportional representation and the government approved it, but it does not ensure proper representation at all. Yesterday at the meeting of the Bkirki subcommittee we discussed the Orthodox Gathering law and said we would support it if the FPM managed to convince its allies of it,” Geagea declared.

“If for a certain reason the FPM couldn't obtain its allies' approval of the Orthodox Gathering law, we must immediately endorse the small electorates law,” he stressed.

“Yesterday, they pledged that there is no return to the 1960 law and we were the first to reject it. We also agreed to go to the parliamentary committees and seek an agreement on the electoral law and if we fail to reach an agreement, we will go to parliament's general assembly,” the LF leader added, noting that the March 14 coalition is willing to “breach” its boycott of meetings attended by government “only for the sake of passing a new electoral law.”

Geagea called on Speaker Nabih Berri to resort to a vote in parliament should the parties fail to agree on an electoral law.

“I remind him that he had said he would support any law the Christians agree on, and we have reached an agreement,” added Geagea.

Asked about the stance of his allies in the March 14 coalition, especially the Mustaqbal Movement, Geagea said: “The electoral law is a process that has to do with proper or improper representation, not with political agendas, and we're in constant contact with our allies, which enabled us to agree with them on the small electorates law, and the FPM must convince its allies (of the Orthodox Gathering law) or else endorse the small electorates law.”

“There are several viewpoints in the March 14 camp, but so far we all support the small electorates law,” he noted.

Answering another question, Geagea stressed that March 14 will not accept the postponement of elections under any circumstances.