Phalange Stays Out of Deal on Hybrid Vote Law, Parliamentary Session Postponed
The majority of March 14 alliance MPs and lawmaker Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front reached on Wednesday an agreement on a hybrid electoral draft-law despite the rejection of the Phalange party.
During a press conference that several of the coalition's MPs held in parliament, LF MP George Adwan said: “We reached a deal on the hybrid law that (Speaker Nabih) Berri had previously proposed.”
“Mistaken are those who think that we seek to confront other factions,” he said after a meeting that the March 14 lawmakers held in Deputy Speaker Farid Makari's office.
“We have 2 objectives - improve representation and reject any law that lets certain factions feel they are being marginalized,” Adwan said.
The Phalange was on Wednesday the only major March 14 faction that announced its rejection of the plan that lies in having 54 MPs elected under the winner-takes-all system and 46 percent via the proportional representation system.
In the same proposal, the country would be divided into six governorates under proportionality and 27 districts under the winner-takes-all system.
But Phalange MP Sami Gemayel said the main reason for his party's rejection of the plan was its objection to the division of governorates.
“The Phalange should have been with us. But time will play its role,” Adwan told reporters when asked about the party's rejection of the hybrid plan.
The proposal was first approved by the LF, al-Mustaqbal and the National Struggle Front on Tuesday. March 14 independent Christian MPs also joined them following a meeting they held at lawmaker Butros Harb's residence on Wednesday.
“We don't want our plan to challenge anyone,” Adwan said in the name of the supporters of the draft-law.
He urged the rest of the factions “to join forces,” saying Lebanon's strength stems from unity.
He said National Struggle Front MP Akram Shehayyeb did not attend the press conference but signed on the draft-law to show his bloc's commitment to it.
Berri had set the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal as the only item on the agenda of four consecutive parliamentary sessions. But he postponed Wednesday's session to Friday for lack of quorum.
He also invited a parliamentary electoral subcommittee to hold consecutive meetings until 6:00 pm Friday under his chairmanship.
Berri headed the first meeting at 1:00 pm Wednesday and adjourned it to 6:00 the same day.
In the evening session, the subcommittee discussed the urgent bill proposed by the LF, al-Mustaqbal and the National Struggle Front, in the presence of all the members except for MP Ali Bazzi, who was replaced by MP Ali Khalil.
The National News Agency said talks were held all day at Berri's office in parliament “in a bid to reach agreements and consensus on a law that satisfies everyone.”
Meanwhile, MTV said the meeting “witnessed a positive atmosphere and discussions tackled all districts, minorities and sects."
The subcommittee will reconvene on Thursday at 11: a.m.
The Orthodox draft-law, which considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, is strongly backed by Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
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