Electoral Subcommittee to Meet Monday to Allow Talks on Draft Law that Combines Two Election Systems

The electoral subcommittee suspended on Wednesday its meetings in order to allow political factions to hold consultations on a draft law that combines two election systems.

Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan announced: “The electoral subcommittee will resume meetings on Monday to allow for consultations on the proposal that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems.”

He made his statement after a meeting for the subcommittee at parliament, which included opposition MPs Robert Ghanem, Ahmed Fatfat, Serge Torsakissian, Free Patriotic Movement MP Alain Aoun, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad, and Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel.

Adwan added: “We are in a race against time to hold the elections on time.”

He revealed that next week's subcommittee meetings will be the last, stating that Wednesday's talks were “fruitful and positive.”

“We cannot, under any excuse, return to the 1960 law or fail to hold the elections,” Adwan said.

“We seek consensus among all sides over an electoral law on condition that this consensus lead to holding the elections on time and with a new law,” stressed the lawmaker.

Aoun later stated that there can be no backing down from the Orthodox Gathering law.

“We are open to discussion that would grant the same representation that is offered by this law,” he remarked.

For his part, Gemayel urged Speaker Nabih Berri to call the joint parliamentary committees to session in order to tackle the uncontentious articles of electoral draft laws.

Torsarkissian then criticized the Orthodox Gathering proposal, noting: “We have to first address Lebanon's structure and composition before adopting such a law.”

“The powers ruling the country, including Premier Najib Miqati, have voiced their concerns over the Orthodox Gathering proposal,” he stated.

The Orthodox Gathering draft law calls for each sect to elect its own lawmakers.

The proposal enjoys the support of the Christian four-party committee comprised of the Phalange Party, FPM, Marada Movement, and Lebanese Forces.

The draft law was criticized by President Michel Suleiman, Miqati, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, the Mustaqbal Movement, March 14 Independent Christian leaders and several other figures.

The cabinet approved in August a draft electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.

It was rejected by Jumblat and the March 14-led opposition, which deemed it as being tailored to the March 8 camp's interests.