Phalange Stays Out of Deal on Hybrid Vote Law, Parliamentary Session Postponed
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
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.
15 May 2013, 12:20
37
m14 Christians are free people that are neither bought or sold, unlike aoun who is now filthy rich of Iranian money.
again ft, when you live in a house of glass.....
aoun is still preparing the ground for his masters to give them more power at the detriment of the Christians, and that through pushing to the void .
a new taef like accord will be aimed to give more power to shia, and aoun is facilitating that.
every Christian knows that now.
15 May 2013, 12:20
36
m14 Christians are free people that are neither bought or sold, unlike aoun who is now filthy rich of Iranian money.
again ft, when you live in a house of glass.....
aoun is still preparing the ground for his masters to give them more power at the detriment of the Christians, and that through pushing to the void .
a new taef like accord will be aimed to give more power to shia, and aoun is facilitating that.
every Christian knows that now.
15 May 2013, 12:39
43
Why are u jealous FT? Just cos Saudi Arabia can give out bigger cheques than Iran ?
P.s I did t forget to ask about dandoun
15 May 2013, 13:34
82
Geha u are probably the only one still believing that now. Why did geagea back the project till yesterday? why did he change his mind and sold the Christian right, after he was visited by Connely and #assiri
Slash if the christians have 64 MP how will anyone be able to outvote them and go for a law changing that? think man think
15 May 2013, 15:49
24
keserweneh
please go check your facts: during taef accord the shia insisted on splitting power into 3 thirds and it is the sunnis who stood firm against it keeping it at 50/50. that is a fact no one can deny.
your nasrallah is asking again for a new taef. why? to impose the third.
if you do not get it yet then .... excuse me.
if you do not get it why aoun is being paid Iranian dollars to help them achieve just that, then seriously you are blind.
15 May 2013, 14:20
26
This sectarian debate is a never ending stupidity and will continue to harm what is left of Democracy. So even if Christians get more MP's how is that going to help the Christian community in Lebanon? How is that going to bring adequate Health Care, adequate Retirement plans, clean environment, eliminating corruption, rebuilding the rotten infrastructure, 24 Hrs power, efficient Telecom services, clean food, un-expired or fake drugs so on and so on…… The way I see it is that with whatever law these clowns in our parliament come up with, problems will never bee solved. The system itself is outdated and ensures constant conflicts of sectarianism and Religious schisms. With all due respect all of these debates are useless and leads nowhere. Only a purely Secular system build on true principles of freedom, liberty and democratic principles will lead Lebanon to a safe shore.
15 May 2013, 14:24
14
The election laws are important but in lebanon's case, whatever laws are passed it remains an ungovernable country because it is a hostage of two regional forces and plagued with corruption and political decadence.
The rights of all sects is protected in a true nation, put laws to build one.
15 May 2013, 14:26
26
@FT, get a life... you have nothing to do than post everyday on a site that u claim is m14 propaganda! post on pro Syrian sites. notice that there isn't one march 8 site, pro Syrian site, or Iranian site that lets u post comments without them approving it and if its not pro Syria it doesn't get approved, I wonder why?
15 May 2013, 15:08
12
FT - I think you are right, dandoun left me...it's time for me to move on.
15 May 2013, 15:24
24
they banned for inappropriate comments they still let u post for weeks before banning u each time. nice comment to avoid the my main point, which is you have no life and nothing better to do, and more importantly how the ppl u support don't allow us to post to begin with. pro Syrian means no freedom of speach.
15 May 2013, 15:35
24
you practically spam this site with your comments, very time consuming! you are spending all this time to do what? try to convince m14 they're wrong? no life at all! no wonder some readers accuse you of being a Syrian propaganda agent... I can't imagine myself spending hours a day everyday trying to convince m8 they're wrong! seriously u need a life or go get layed bro!
15 May 2013, 16:00
25
Again, count your posts, and on how many articles, and how many replies... you claim you have a job other than this, yet you always posting, always reading every single comment people make on this site, and yet you say you have a life, especially that you think you"mop the floor with you and your friends on naharnet." or that this is somehow important or changes minds means you defenitely have "NO LIFE" and need to get " Layed"
15 May 2013, 16:01
23
and you still don't mention how Pro Syrian, march 8 and Iranian sites don't let you comment at all!
15 May 2013, 16:01
23
and you still don't mention how Pro Syrian, march 8 and Iranian sites don't let you comment at all if its not pro
15 May 2013, 19:46
00
Even I get censored very often.... I understand I write shocking things and deserve it.
15 May 2013, 14:28
28
-Flamethrower ...Iran is the only country spending billions in Lebanon on a certain group to have influence in the area,and to try and protect its nuclear plans at the expense and destruction of Lebanon.
15 May 2013, 15:51
24
when iran will lose Syria then Lebanon, what do you think will happen internally in iran?
do you think the starving people in iran will be permissive to their leadership for making them reach their status of poverty for nothing?
it is coming sooner than you expect it, but you do not want to see it.
15 May 2013, 15:05
14
Secularism now and complete separation of state and religion...We should protect our country for generations to come not just your sect…
15 May 2013, 18:13
13
No FT, not through Riyadh, nor Tehran, Nor Damascus and surely not through you little general..
15 May 2013, 15:47
25
I think it funny, truly funny that Aounist are here writing that M14 Christians have taken a position based on personal financial gain. If this is not the kettle calling the skillit black, what is?
Let's talk reality. The LF was never with the Orthodox Plan. It was a demagogue position promoted by Aoun in the Christian electorate and the LF did not want to get outflanked so they voiced support for it to hold on to Christian voters, never thinking that the Plan had a chance in hell. And it didn't. With Hezbollah and Aoun its principle supporters, one could see clearly that it was an attempt to fix the election so as to allow Hezbollah to prosecute its war in Syria.
15 May 2013, 15:51
25
Geagea has said all along, bring a better proposal and the LF would go with it. One was in the works the whole time and it was brought forth and he went for it. Does Geagea take Saudi money?? Who is naive enough to think that he does not. Does Aoun take Iranian money to support himself?? Who is naive to think that he does not. Hezbollah puts his family in the Ministries so that they can steal from the Lebanese people, get off of the Iranian teet so that Hezbollah can get a greater share, is all
15 May 2013, 15:51
25
So please, no more sanctimonious bleetings from the Aounis that the M14 Christians have sold out the Christians. There is no greater sell out traitor in the pack that your imaginary knight on his white horse, le petite generale aoun, aou aou.
