Geagea: Orthodox Gathering Law Never Had Chance to Succeed
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Wednesday that the party had from the beginning of discussions over a parliamentary electoral law sought an agreement over one that garners the support of all sides, stressing that it never pledged to adopt the Orthodox Gathering law.
He said during a press conference: “The Orthodox proposal never had the chance to succeed.”
He explained that the law was never going to be adopted because President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati opposed it.
The Lebanese Forces therefore decided to search for an alternative proposal, which was reached with the Mustaqbal bloc and National Struggle Front on Tuesday, he said.
On parliament's failure to convene to vote on the Orthodox Gathering law, he said: “We have not returned to square one, but the hybrid law is available.”
The new proposal should be placed on parliament's agenda for Friday, he added.
Addressing MP Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement's accusations that the LF had broken its pledge over the Orthodox Gathering law, Geagea said: “We never made a pledge in the first place.”
He therefore urged the movement to halt its accusatory tone and heated rhetoric over this issue.
Moreover, he noted: “Why is it that parliament did not convene since the adoption of the Orthodox Gathering law on February 19? It is because some sides that claim to support it actually don't.”
He also praised the role of Bkirki in following up on discussions to agree on a new law, while hailing those of former Premier Saad Hariri, whom Geagea deemed as one of his closest allies.
“I hope that Aoun would read the new hybrid law proposal and I think he will reach a different conclusion about it than the one he already made,” he explained.
The March 14 alliance, excluding the Phalange Party, and the National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat announced on Wednesday an agreement on a hybrid electoral law
The plan calls for 54 MPs to be elected under the winner-takes-all system and 46 percent via the proportional representation system.
The country would be divided into six governorates under proportionality and 27 districts under the winner-takes-all system.
The Orthodox draft-law, which considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, is strongly backed by Hizbullah and the FPM.
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15 May 2013, 16:54
Geagea: I hope Aoun will actually read our hybrid draft law proposal. He will reach a different conclusion about it than the one he made.
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15 May 2013, 16:54
Geagea: We oppose any constitutional amendment over the electoral law.
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15 May 2013, 16:52
Geagea: We have not returned to square one, but the draft law we devised yesterday should be proposed during Friday's parliament session.
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15 May 2013, 16:51
Geagea: The Orthodox Gathering law was never going to be adopted because the president and premier rejected it.
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15 May 2013, 16:50
Geagea: We hope that all sides would support our proposal.
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15 May 2013, 16:49
Geagea: All political powers, including the FPM, played a role in our reaching an agreement over an electoral law with the Mustaqbal bloc and National Struggle Front.
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15 May 2013, 16:48
Geagea lauded Bkirki's role in following up on efforts to reach an agreement over a new law.
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15 May 2013, 16:48
Geagea urged members of the FPM to halt its accusatory tone and heated political rhetoric over the electoral law.
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15 May 2013, 16:46
Geagea hailed the role of the Mustaqbal bloc in helping reach an agreement over a new law.
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15 May 2013, 16:45
Geagea: The FPM knew that our goal was to reach an agreement over a consensual law.
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15 May 2013, 16:44
Geagea on claims that the LF retracted its commitment to the Orthodox Gathering law: Our main goal was to reach an agreement over a consensual law, such as Speaker Berri's hybrid proposal. We never made any pledge over the Orthodox law.
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15 May 2013, 16:42
Geagea: There was never hope that the Orthodox Gathering law was going to be adopted.
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15 May 2013, 16:41
Geagea: Why is it that parliament did not convene since the adoption of the Orthodox Gathering law on February 19? It is because some sides that claim to support it actually don't.
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15 May 2013, 16:37
Geagea: The LF did not follow through with its commitment to the Orthodox Gathering law because it become clear that it will not garner sufficient support and it therefore cannot be adopted.
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15 May 2013, 16:36
Geagea: The hybrid law is a better option than the 1960 law.
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15 May 2013, 16:36
LF chief Samir Geagea during press conference on electoral law: Former PM-Saad Hariri is among my closest allies and discussions over the electoral law were arduous.
15 May 2013, 17:06
01
oh man, the guy is just freaking out. Dude who cares if there is no sufficient support to the law, our community has the right for 60 some mp's so who gave you the right to CONCEDE?
15 May 2013, 17:15
42
what do you reply soar losers full of hatred, having no meaningful comment, only insults?
nothing.
why nothing? because they are blind and deaf.
they do not want to see and understand that aoun is driving them to disaster once more.
they do not want to understand that aoun is an agent for iran and hizbushaitan, ensuring they will get what they have always wanted: divide power into 3.
what better way to try doing it but by increasing sectarian sentiment in the country to reach a point of void and force a new taef?
this is the role of aoun: give away the rights of Christians.
15 May 2013, 17:21
64
guys
let us all decide to stop insults from anywhere they are coming.
please report whoever insults others from now on, as we need t have a civil conversation on this site.
after all, it is a site where we can all exchange ideas but without insults.
15 May 2013, 17:29
01
Really!! Who the F&*#(cares you twit M11er! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the future of Christians in Lebanon you have no idea. You need to think outside the box and think long term and the interests of the nation and its people! I am not a support of FPM however a Christian and would like to state for the record Mr Geagea is the Devil in disguise as a matter of fact took the disguise off today. Bring on any law and watch the Christians wipe you off the face of the earth you and your foolish supporters from the hillbilly town of Bcharre.
15 May 2013, 17:51
00
Today was THE day we could have changed the political course of Christians in this country, from one of subordination to one of equal footing with their Muslim peers.
Although far from ideal, the Orthodox Gathering law would have finally lifted the everlasting situation veil of political oppression that the Christian community have experienced for the past 25 years, where a large number of Christian MPs are absolutely dependant on the Future Movement and the PSP for their election.
Sadly, Geagea and the "independant" M14 MPs, have decided to preserve their short-term political interests rather than the community they claim to represent.
Sad day indeed, a missed opportunity that may not happen again.
15 May 2013, 18:29
13
Wrong, no consensual law was reached so the 1960 law is still valid. Stop lying.
15 May 2013, 18:33
01
Once again, Dr. Arreet 7akeh proves that he does not flip-flop nor does he change his skin color, especially when it comes to restoring what was robbed from the Christians. wlak ah ya hak...awati ya arreet 7akeh ah
15 May 2013, 19:21
25
Of course, Nasrallah will give his speech first before there is a final vote on Friday. I am sure that he will signal his militia to take to the streets if his Orthodox plan fails and the Hybrid Plan is adopted.
He will announce this ironically on his Resistance and Liberation Day address. Resist what? The will of the People. Liberate whom? Hezbollah from the Government.
15 May 2013, 19:26
10
@lebanonforver Here here, my friend, from abroad it looks like Geagea is one of few fighting for a unified lebanon, unlike those other Iranian puppets
15 May 2013, 20:56
14
All I can say is Lebanon is saved from being the laughing stock of the civilized world with the most discriminatory electoral law that even AFRICANS would be embarrassed of using.
To the "Yes men" and M8 sheep, hate it now but blocking this law kept some dignity to the Lebanese people in Lebanon and abroad.
15 May 2013, 22:13
02
It's a VERY scary thing to know that you still think deep down inside you are a sectarian individual. I have never thought in my head in a sectarian manner and if I ever do I genuinely feel ashamed of my self. Perhaps not all of us have left the civil war behind us.
Also I'm an Atheist so personally I think all religions are means to herd a flock of sheep, so the idea of identifying an individual by who is doing the herding is even more idiotic.
16 May 2013, 00:00
03
This is the point where every Lebanese is forgetting YOUR religion is between YOU and YOUR god LEAVE it at HOME and in your place of worship. I don't care if the President's religion or any other politicians as long as he keeps that to HIMSELF and work in the interest of the nation.
Your assumption that you are NOT sectarian but everyone else is, is an oxymoron. Instead of helping the society move AWAY from sectarianism you are rooting for a electoral law that will shatter the fragile Lebanese community even more.
When you have a flat tire you don't go and flatten the rest of your car tires to make them all even, you fix the flat tire. Don't try to fix a problem by making it worst just because your leader thinks it would give him a couple more parliament seats.
I didn't call anyone sheep (yes I implied it), I simply provided you my opinion about religion so you would not end up calling me a Wahabi lover, Jihadi, or Sharia advocate which seems to be the trend these days.
15 May 2013, 21:14
02
habibi inta flame. ba3dkom ma zhi2to sharee3a w malemi ya shabeb. ma 7ada belo fina. ne7na sha3b wa7ad
15 May 2013, 21:45
42
"LF is easily 35-40% of the Christian vote".
Mish bas LF is 35-40% of the Christian vote, but EASILY kamen. LOL.
15 May 2013, 23:06
11
FT - May be he does not believe in a law that further divide Lebanese. Either way, election laws are smoke screen. None will solve Lebanon problems. There are two visions for Lebanon and they are fighting it out and it has not to do with election law. If under any election law, the government demands that the Hizb and all other armed groups surrender their weapons, what will the reaction be? So let us stop kid ourselves here.
15 May 2013, 23:52
11
Really D-bag?? Everybody as in you and all your aliases?
Take a break from your pitiful life, which is defined as spending 24/7 posting propaganda and insults on a website that you despise. Learn what democracy means. If the majority don't support something, then it shouldn't pass.
1960 law is still valid. Ortho law was a failed alternative proposal.
16 May 2013, 00:03
21
Now this is funny. What was the purpose of the meetings, and phone calls congratulating each other.
16 May 2013, 00:44
24
I don't always comment seriously here..... But when i do it's always because of FT's fixation with gaegae.
Gaegae is a war criminal garbage supports al nusra gaegae got paid gaegae this and garage that , Saudi Wahhabi gaegae gaegagegaegagsge
Even though some of the above could be true, it doesn't mean ur Aoun/nasrallah don't get paid, I'm sure they do.. And they are def not angels
16 May 2013, 02:52
11
DEFINITIONS and MY OPINION:
Mustahbal ........ opinion not a fact (almost an insult)
Hizbshaitan ...... also opinion not a fact (almost an insult)
Hizb Allah ....... blasphemy as Allah has no party (his party is all humans)
............ it is OK to voice opinions in a civilized way, limiting comments to facts only could result in no comments (note that many so called facts are also opinions of those that published them as facts)
16 May 2013, 09:08
01
Geagea has made us lose one last chance for Christians to regain their dignity and rights in Lebanon !! although he promised to vote for it as long there is no other All-Christians approved alternative law !!!
Disappointing and doubtful ! how can anyone trust him anymore !!!
16 May 2013, 09:14
01
I am an LF supporter and so upset from what they did. they should not obey to Hariri and especially Jumblatt! the Unity between the christian is a must.
16 May 2013, 10:06
01
Now that Dr. Arreet 7akeh took a break from "successfully" predicting the perpetual fall of the "ASSad" regime, he is busy confirming his prediction that the vote would fail when with his promise (actually, he was a staunch supporter of the Orthodox Gathering law!!!) the proposed law had a clear majority in Parliament!!! wlak min addak ya arreet 7akeh? amn al moujtama3 al 7ariri fawq koul e3tibar, wa darb al 7abib zbib ya joumblat!!! How typical of a Christian Sunni.
16 May 2013, 10:25
11
FT its very simple ..don't vote for the LF..you can stick to your traitor,coward,deserter and traitor general..
