March 8, March 14 Intensify Meetings on Electoral Law after Failure to Reach Consensus

The rival March 8 and March 14 camps on Monday embarked on studying their next steps concerning the thorny issue of the electoral law, after failing to reach consensus during the meetings of the electoral parliamentary subcommittee.

“A meeting for the ministers of the parliamentary majority is underway at the residence of (Health) Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, where the conferees are discussing the electoral law and activating government's work,” al-Manar television reported Monday evening.

The meeting was attended by State Minister for Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish, Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, State Minister Ali Qansou and State Minister Marwan Kheireddine, al-Manar said.

State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Nicolas Fattoush joined the meeting later, according to al-Manar.

Meanwhile, MTV said failure to reach an agreement on an electoral law during the subcommittee's meetings has “revived” the March 14 forces.

It revealed that a meeting was held Monday evening between Lebanese Forces bloc MP George Adwan and ex-PM Fouad Saniora, head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc.

Earlier on Monday, LF leader Samir Geagea held talks in Maarab with March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid on “the latest developments in Lebanon and the region,” according to a statement issued by Geagea's office.

MTV also reported that MP Butros Harb and independent Christian figures from the March 14 camp will visit Geagea and launch an “initiative” from Maarab on Tuesday.