Phalange to Make New Electoral Law Proposal: Hizbullah's Defiance of the State Led to Arsal Attack
The Phalange Party announced on Monday that it has devised a new parliamentary electoral law, which it will present to the electoral subcommittee.
The new law is based on the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems, revealed MP Sami Gemayel after the party's weekly politburo meeting.
The Phalange Party's proposal calls for holding electing 60 percent of MPs based on the winner-takes-all system and 36 districts.
The rest will be elected based on proportional representation and nine provinces.
“This proposal offers real partnership among the Lebanese,” stressed Gemayel.
“We insist that the elections be held on time based on a new law that ensures fair representation,” he added.
He hoped that the draft law would garner the agreement of all Lebanese, adding that it guarantees the election of 56 Christian lawmakers and addresses the insecurities of various powers.
Commenting on his meeting over the weekend with former Premier Saad Hariri in Paris, the MP said: “We discussed all Lebanese issues and we are obligated to bridge difference with the Mustaqbal Movement.”
“We hope to follow up on this issue with Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat,” he added.
Moreover, he revealed that he is awaiting to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri in order to present him with the Phalange Party's electoral draft law.
On the Arsal clash, Gemayel voiced the party's “absolute support for the Lebanese army.”
“All citizens are obligated to abide by the authority of the army,” he stated.
“We hope that the army would clarify the Arsal clash,” the MP demanded.
Moreover, he remarked: “We will continue to witness acts of defiance against the army as long as Hizbullah continues to defy the authority of the state.”
A clash broke out in the Bekaa town of Arsal on February 1 as the army was seeking to arrest a wanted suspect.
Two officers and the suspect were killed in the ensuing unrest.
The army has since upped its security measures at the town in order to arrest the assailants.
The Phalange politburo later issued its weekly statement during which it voiced its support to President Michel Suleiman's recent call against “deporting individuals to regions witnessing political, military, and sectarian conflicts.”
It also renewed its commitment to the Cedar Revolution in light of the eighth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.
“Our leaders paid with their lives to achieve the high goal of placing Lebanon on the map of democratic, free, sovereign, and independent states,” it added.
“We will not back down from accomplishing these goals,” it stressed.
To that end, it stressed the importance of committing to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and demonstrating the country's ability to “govern itself away from foreign meddling and hegemony.”
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