Fatfat Criticizes Orthodox Gathering Electoral Law, Rejects Proportional Representation System
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat lashed out at the Orthodox Gathering electoral draft law, considering that it produces an assembly for the “nation and not a parliament.”
“Representing all the sects is very important, but partnership is more crucial,” Fatfat said after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki on Saturday.
Last week, the Christian four-party committee on the electoral law agreed to endorse the electoral system proposed by the so-called Orthodox Gathering, under which each sect would elect its own lawmakers.
But the proposal was criticized by President Michel Suleiman, Premier Najib Miqati, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, al-Mustaqbal Movement March 14 Independent Christian leaders and several other figures.
Fatfat, who is representing al-Mustaqbal movement at the electoral subcommittee meetings, pointed out that the March 14 alliance supports the small-sized electoral districts, expressing readiness to agree on any electoral law based on the winner-take all system and not proportional representation.
The March 14 Christian MPs suggested to divide Lebanon into 50 small-sized districts based on a winner-takes-all system, while a government’s proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into 13 medium districts based on proportional representation.
Concerning the Christian summit that was held on Friday night at Bkirki, the lawmaker described it as “essential.”
He noted that the summit indicates that there's an agreement that would have the support of all the rival parties.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh attended the Christian summit under the auspices of al-Rahi.
However, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea was absent over security threats.
The gatherers agreed that their primary choice will be the Orthodox Gathering proposal should an agreement over another law fail to be reached.
13 January 2013, 03:30
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I support M14 but @ouwette I agree with you ... Lebanon's diversity is its different religions and cultures, as Lebanese we need to embrace and respect each others differences... Taifee with Love, so lets not fool our selfs and accept that. I want Proportional Rep!.
13 January 2013, 10:58
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How do you propose to divide these districts? A district where it takes 5,000 to elect an MP and another 50,000? Or are we going to have a fair districting where every Lebanese citizen vote is equal?
13 January 2013, 11:02
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"Would you accept that 24 sunni MP'S be elected by hizballah or aoun or even your allies the LF." I could care less. Because as supporters of Aoun and Hizb will vote one way, others will support another way. That is democracy. The problem is not who get to vote for whom. It is combination of arms outside the control of the state, confessionalism, corruption, etc... One person, one vote with strong guarantees for individual rights.
