Miqati Refuses to Sign Orthodox Draft-Law If Approved by Parliament

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed that he is considering his options if the parliament adopted the so-called Orthodox Gathering electoral draft-law, reiterating that he will not attend Wednesday's assembly session.

“I began consulting several law and constitution experts to study my options if it was adopted based on my commitment to the constitution and my jurisdictions,” Miqati said in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Wednesday.

He pointed out that his discussions are focusing on the possibility of not signing the decree and consequently not referring it to President Michel Suleiman.

The Orthodox draft-law, if approved at the parliament, will be referred to President Suleiman via the government to be published in the official gazette.

The Orthodox plan is the only draft-law approved by the joint parliamentary committees. But it is severely criticized by the parties which have announced that they would boycott the four consecutive sessions that start on Wednesday.

The proposal considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

The President has repeatedly vowed to challenge the Orthodox proposal if it was approved by the parliament.

Miqati reiterated that he will not attend Wednesday's session along with State Minister Ahmed Karami.

“I am not concerned with anything approved at this session,” the caretaker PM said.

He warned the parliament of taking any legislative decision in the absence of the premier as it would be considered “a dangerous precedent whatever the reasons and justifications were.”

“I will preserve the role of the premier until the last minute,” Miqati added.

Its opponents claim that it encourages extremism and leads to more sectarianism in the country. But the March 8 alliance along with the LF and Phalange from March 14 stress that the plan is the only way to guarantee the best representation of Christians.

The 1960 law, which is based on the winner-takes-all system and was used in the 2009 elections, has marginalized Christians, they say.