Presidential Sources Deny Suleiman Backs 1960 Vote Law

Sources close to President Michel Suleiman on Friday shrugged off criticism that he had called for holding this year's parliamentary elections based on the 1960 law.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, the sources said Suleiman wants the elections to be held on time. But as long as MPs haven't yet agreed on a new draft-law then the authorities are compelled to abide by the rules and deadlines of the 1960 law which adopts the Qada as a district based on a winner-takes-all system.

The president has been among the first officials to “bury” the law by insisting on Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to make his proposal, which was adopted by the cabinet in August last year, the sources said.

The government's proposal calls for 13 districts based on a proportional representation system.

“This proposal is his option,” the sources told An Nahar. “But as long as the new draft-law hasn't been adopted and deadlines are approaching, then the government should respect the existing law and prepare for the polls to be held on time.”

Suleiman has criticized the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal which calls for a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.