Debate over Electoral Law ongoing as Rivals Hold on to Stances

The deadlock over the new electoral law remains at a standstill as the heated debate between Lebanese foes is ongoing as they are holding on to their proposals refusing to budge an inch.

In comments published As Safir newspaper on Monday, sources close to the March 8 alliance criticized a proposal submitted by their foes.

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.

“This draft law designed to suit the March 14 Christians, in particular the Lebanese Forces,” the sources pointed out.

They noted that adopting this draft law would reserve for the opposition along with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, 76 parliamentary seats, while the March 8 camp would get 52 MPs.

LF MP Antoine Zahra stressed to As Safir that the opposition's proposal attains fair representation among all sects, saying that it gives every sect its rights.

“We are hoping that we would be able to convince the Free Patriotic Movement with our project,” Zahra said.

However, he stated that the Orthodox Gathering proposal is still being considered by the party.

The Gathering’s proposal states that every sect would elect its own MPs, however, many argue that it would fuel sectarianism in the country.

Zahra said that if the opposition's draft law fails to achieve consensus, the March 14 alliance will agree to discuss an electoral law based on proportional representation on the condition of decreasing the number of the 15 districts.

Media reports said recently that he FPM and al-Marada Movement representatives considered that small districts do not guarantee the election of 56 Christian MPs by Christian voters and that proportionality with the division of Lebanon into 15 districts is the best choice.

Zahra also slammed a statement by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel over the importance of approving an electoral draft law by the end of the year to give him enough time to prepare for the legislative elections in the spring of 2013.

He considered that “Charbel's statement is shameful as he has no right to hold us responsible for the delay caused by him and his cabinet in referring the draft law to the parliament.”

The government's draft law calls for dividing Lebanon into 13 medium-sized districts based on proportionality, while a plan suggested by FPM chief Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc allows every sect to elect its own MPs under a proportional representation system with Lebanon as a single district.

The joint parliamentary committees decided last week during a session to meet twice per week in a bid to finish discussions over the electoral law soon.