Berri Says Proportional Representation 'Preserves Diversity', Urges Govt. to Act on Electoral Law
Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday stressed that “protecting Lebanon and preserving diversity in the Lebanese formula can only be realized through passing a new electoral law based on proportional representation.”
“In order to immunize Lebanon, we must all agree on an electoral law,” Berri said during his weekly meeting with lawmakers in Ain el-Tineh.
“The government must discuss the law as soon as possible because this issue is its top priority and responsibility,” the speaker added.
While al-Mustaqbal Movement has rejected that the electoral law be fully based on proportional representation, arguing that Hizbullah's arms would prevent serious competition in the party's strongholds, MP Walid Jumblat has totally rejected proportional representation, even within a hybrid law, warning it would “marginalize” his minority Druze community.
Hizbullah, Mustaqbal, Berri's AMAL Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces are meanwhile discussing several formats of a so-called hybrid law.
The country has not organized parliamentary elections since 2009 and the legislature has instead twice extended its own mandate. The last polls were held under an amended version of the 1960 electoral law and the next vote is scheduled for May.
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