Mustaqbal Urges 'Cooperation' in Govt. Formation, Clings to Hybrid Electoral Law
Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Thursday urged the political parties to show “cooperation” so that the new cabinet can be formed as soon as possible, while reiterating its called for a so-called “hybrid” electoral law.
Lauding “the efforts that the Prime Minister-designate is exerting,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting that “the cabinet line-up cannot be announced in the absence of cooperation from the majority of the parties.”
“There is a need to stop the practices that some parties might be exercising to impose crippling conditions that have so far delayed the formation of the cabinet, which is a loss for everyone,” the bloc added.
Turning to the issue of the electoral law, Mustaqbal reminded of its “firm stance that clings to a hybrid formula that mixes the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems.”
“This is the temporary and possible formula that allows a transition to the implementation of a law fully based on proportional representation after the State extends its sole authority across all Lebanese regions,” the bloc said.
Earlier in the day, Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc reiterated its call for a law fully based on proportional representation.
Mustaqbal has repeatedly rejected Hizbullah's proposal, arguing that the party's arsenal of arms would prevent serious competition in regions where the Iran-backed party has clout.
Mustaqbal, the Lebanese Forces and the Progressive Socialist Party have meanwhile proposed a hybrid electoral law that mixes the proportional representation and the winner-takes-all systems. Speaker Nabih Berri has also proposed a hybrid law.
The country has not voted for a parliament since 2009, with the legislature instead twice extending its own mandate.
The 2009 polls were held under an amended version of the 1960 electoral law and the next elections are scheduled for May 2017.
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