Aoun on 2nd Day of Jbeil Tour: Those Seeking Small Electoral Districts Want to Fragment Lebanon
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun declared on Sunday that it is no longer acceptable that the “majority of the people be represented through a parliamentary minority,” reported the National News Agency.
He said of the parliamentary electoral law: “Those demanding the adoption of small electoral districts want to fragment Lebanon because they are only seeking their immediate interests.”
The MP made his remarks from the town of Ehmej during the second and final day of his tour of the region of Jbeil.
He continued: “We are searching for a law that provide proper representation even if a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation will cost us four MPs.”
Indirectly addressing the March 14 camp, the MP said: “It will be a fatal choice if they come to power because they are carrying out a revolt that is more dangerous than the period of Syrian hegemony over Lebanon.”
The government adopted in August a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 electoral districts.
The draft law was rejected by the opposition and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has suggested on Friday the adoption of small districts for the law, saying that it offers fair representation.
The opposition's proposal made by MPs George Adwan, Sami Gemayel and Butros Harb supports the formation of 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system, while a plan suggested by Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc would allow every sect to elect its own MPs under a proportional representation system with Lebanon as a single district.
Aoun noted on Saturday that the stances adopted by the cabinet provided the country with the necessary stability, noting that the new electoral law based on proportional representation will be approved “ultimately.”
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