Charbel Warns Against Adoption of Winner-Takes-All System
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel warned on Saturday that only 15 Christian MPs would be elected by the votes of Christian voters in the 2013 parliamentary elections if the current winner-takes-all system was not changed.
In remarks to local newspapers, Charbel said: “Mistaken are those who think that the 1960 law guarantees the best representation of Christians.”
“Let those who are eager to (keep) the law know that the number of Christian lawmakers elected by Christian votes in 2009 were only 15,” he said.
Charbel reiterated that parliament should approve an electoral draft-law by the end of the year to give him enough time to prepare for the legislative elections in the spring of 2013.
He lamented that Christian parties that have proposed rival draft-laws “don't have the intention to agree on a modern electoral law that guarantees a true representation.”
“Had they wanted, they would have approved the draft-law proposed by the interior ministry that is based on a proportional representation system through 13 to 15 districts,” Charbel said.
Such a system would guarantee the election of 50 Christian MPs by Christian voters, he added.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/55217 |