Al-Rahi Urges Officials to Stop Treason Accusations over Electoral Law, Seek Consensus

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Friday called on all politicians in Lebanon to continue to seek consensus over a new electoral law, urging an end to the “treason accusations” among Christians leaders.

“After six years of proposing draft laws and wasting days and months in studying proposals and holding consultations and meetings, failing to reach a new law for parliamentary elections would harm the image of the parliament and political officials in Lebanon, and subsequently the image of Lebanon and the dignity of its people,” al-Rahi said in an appeal to Lebanon's leaders from Colombia.

He urged "all officials, especially Speaker Nabih Berri, to continue to seek consensus and to vote on a new electoral law.”

And as he called on everyone to facilitate the process, he stressed that "the country's interest is bigger and more important than the interest of any party."

"The country's interest lies in staging the elections, refraining from harming the institutional course and consitutional authorities, and respecting the democratic cycle and rotation of power that distinguish Lebanon from the rest of countries in the region," al-Rahi added.

The patriarch urged "all parties and politicians to stop all the campaigns of treason accusations and insults and not to return to a past that everyone has left behind, especially those who are personally concerned with it."

Al-Rahi called on everyone to "shoulder their historic responsibility before the court of national conscience and not to disappoint the hopes of the people and the future generations."

The rival parties have failed so far to reach a consensual electoral law, after the March 14 forces endorsed a hybrid law that did not receive the approval of the Phalange Party and the March 8 camp, who have demanded several amendments.

The Lebanese Forces' endorsment of the aforementioned hybrid law sparked a fierce media campaign against the party, which LF leader Samir Geagea has described as "an elimination war that is being waged by the Syrian regime and Hizbullah" with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun as its cover.