Kataeb Slams Govt. over Electoral Law, 'Rushed' Approval of Oil Decrees

The Kataeb Party on Monday accused the government of failing to honor its promise on devising a new electoral law, while slamming what it described as a “rushed” approval of decrees related to offshore oil and gas exploration.

“The 1960 law remains a sword hanging over the heads of the people and democracy and it represents a direct threat to correct representation,” the party's political bureau said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

“It has become evident that the government has renounced its promise to devise a new electoral law that ensures correct representation,” Kataeb charged.

Accordingly, the party called on parliament to “make use of the extraordinary session to pass a modern electoral law and eliminate any excuse” for a new extension of the legislature's term.

Kataeb also reminded of its proposed electoral law that is based on small electoral districts, stressing that the elections must happen on time.

“The government had linked its existence, course and fate to two issues: the parliamentary elections and the state budget, so it is strange that it has turned its back on its raison d'être and is instead focusing on dealing with the oil fortune, which is a reserve for Lebanon,” the party added.

It said decrees that authorize regulators to divide the offshore areas into blocks for drilling and exploration and to issue tenders were “hastily issued” by the government in a session marred by “secrecy, doubts and the splitting of resources, despite the objections of some ministers and their calls for postponement after they failed to read and understand the 400-page decrees in the 48 hours that were given to them.”

And lamenting that the ministers approved what appears to be an agreement that was reached by certain political forces outside the council of ministers, Kataeb said it will voice its detailed remarks on the two oil decrees “at the appropriate time.”

The key decrees pave the way for oil and gas extraction off Lebanon's coast, after more than two years of political deadlock had stymied previous efforts.

Earlier this decade, geologists discovered a bonanza of gas reserves off the coasts of Lebanon and Israel, sparking a frenzy of development on the Israeli side to tap into the fields.

Lebanon's successive governments, beset by infighting and corruption, made only marginal progress toward that goal.

A portion of the reserves lies in territory disputed by the two countries.

Hizbullah has repeatedly warned Israel against tapping into Lebanon's gas reserves.