Report: Several LF, Phalange MPs to Vote Against Orthodox Proposal
Members of the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange parliamentary blocs are split over the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal and several of them could reject it if put for a vote in parliament, informed sources said Friday.
The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Phalange MPs Nadim Gemayel, Elie Marouni and Fadi al-Habr in addition to LF lawmakers Joseph al-Maalouf and Antoine Abu Khater could vote against the draft-law or not attend a parliamentary session if Speaker Nabih Berri calls on the General Assembly to meet.
The absence of the five MPs would lower the number of the backers for the Orthodox proposal to 63 or 64, shattering a possible victory for its supporters in the 128-member parliament, they said.
Reports have also said that the two MPs of the Syrian Social National Party, Assaad Hardan and Marwan Fares, are among those who reject the proposal in addition to Baath party lawmaker Assem Qanso.
The proposal has already drawn the criticism of President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
It has also been severely criticized by the opposition al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat and March 14 opposition's independent Christian MPs.
Suleiman has said he would challenge the plan before the Constitutional Council if it was approved by parliament.
The proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
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