Mustaqbal on Eve of Committees' Meeting Rules Out Orthodox Law, Postponing Elections

Al-Mustaqbal bloc restated on the eve of the joint parliamentary committees' meeting its total rejection of the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law, saying that it would promote extremism and isolation in the country.

"This law would transform Lebanon from a leading example of co-existence in the region to a land where sectarian communities are fighting over power,” the Mustaqbal lawmakers said in a statement after the bloc's weekly meeting on Tuesday.

"We also reject postponing the elections as it would only prolong the crisis and the dominance of illegal weapons,” the statement confirmed.

It also expressed: “Adopting proportional representation while arms are in the hands of Hizbullah will not serve any good”.

The statement explained that Hizbullah's "dominance in certain regions and the party's possession of weapons will prevent the opposition from having any influential presence there, which defies the law's purpose of representing minorities".

The bloc revealed that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will propose an initiative during his televised appearance on Thursday “to find a way out of the current crisis”, elaborating that the suggestion will reflect the party's beliefs in promoting moderation, just representation and equal power-sharing.

"We restate our openness to discuss all ideas that abide by the constitution and Taif accord's articles,” the statement said.

The Mustaqbal MPs reassured that they will not participate in any talks in which members of the current government are involved: “There should be a rescue cabinet that would correct what the current one had done in the country”.

Meanwhile, Mustaqbal's March 14 allies, the Phalange Party and the Lebanese Forces, had announced that they will attend Wednesday's joint parliamentary committee meeting out of their keenness to agree with the rest of factions on an electoral law that would govern the elections that are set for June.

The electoral subcommittee completed on Tuesday its report on the discussions over the electoral draft laws.

The subcommittee had held 16 meetings over the past few weeks aimed at reaching an agreement between the rival political powers over a new electoral law, but it failed in this mission.

The Mustaqbal lawmakers commented on the latest events at Roumieh prison, urging the government to start trying the arrested men.

“We hold the government responsible for all happenings at Roumieh and we call it to initiate a reform plan inside Lebanon's jails,” the MPs said, warning against “trending the use of weapons inside the prison similarly to what is happening around the country, due to Hizbullah's possession of arms”.