Opposition Officials, al-Rahi Coordinate on Vote Law in Race Against Time

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea held on Thursday a series of discussions with his allies in the March 14 opposition alliance in addition to the Maronite patriarch on the controversial electoral draft-law.

Geagea's press office said the LF leader telephoned al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora to discuss with him the vote law and stress the need to exert efforts to reach consensus.

They agreed “to keep contacts to achieve the expected result as soon as possible,” it said.

Geagea also held phone conversations with Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Phalange leader Amin Gemayel “to continue discussions on the electoral draft-law.”

Geagea said in remarks published Thursday that he hasn't lost hope on the ability of rival lawmakers to reach consensus on a draft-law ahead of this year's parliamentary polls.

“I am not pessimistic and I haven't lost hope,” he added.

The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal that was approved by the joint parliamentary committees on Tuesday.

It divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

But the proposal has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, the centrist National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

The LF and the Phalange voted in favor of the proposal at the joint parliamentary committees meeting.

The March 14 officials had also held lengthy phone conversations on Wednesday in their attempt to agree on a draft-law before Speaker Nabih Berri calls for a parliamentary session.

Berri has said he would give MPs a one-week deadline to reach consensus or else he would put the Orthodox proposal on the parliament's agenda.