Speaker Nabih Berri Wednesday scheduled four consecutive legislative sessions for next week to study a new electoral law with the Orthodox Gathering topping the legislature’s agenda.
Meanwhile, the Future Movement reiterated its opposition to the Orthodox proposal.
Lawmakers who visited Berri quoted the speaker as saying the consecutive sessions would begin on May 15 in order to discuss and approve a new electoral law.
Berri, according to his visitors, added that the Orthodox law was approved at the joint parliamentary committee level and would be the first item to be discussed by the legislature next week.
On Tuesday, Berri warned rival political factions that they would have to choose between the current “1960 law” and the Orthodox proposal if they fail to reach agreement on a new voting system by next week.
During a news conference in former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s residence, head of the Future parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Siniora reiterated his party’s opposition to the Orthodox law.
“We will not accept the Orthodox Gathering law because it not in Lebanon’s nature and serves a blow to coexistence,” he said.
“I affirm our commitment to a consensus law that secures fair representation and we hope the elections are held on time as soon as possible given that postponement has become inevitable,” Siniora added.
The lack of agreement on a new electoral law among rival political groups has raised the possibility of postponing the elections and consequently extending Parliament’s term, which ends June 20.
MP Ahmad Fatfat warned earlier Wednesday that lawmakers from the Future parliamentary bloc would pull out of the legislative session if the Orthodox proposal is brought up during the meeting.
“The Future [parliamentary bloc] will withdraw from the May 15 plenary session if the Orthodox law is raised in the meeting,” Fatfat told the Voice of Lebanon radio station.
Politicians have been holding talks in order to bridge the gap over a new law.
Tasked by MP Michel Aoun, Former Deputy Speaker Elie Ferzli met Wednesday with MP Sami Gemayel and the two discussed the latest developments in the electoral law saga.
“The visit ... is aimed at informing Gemayel and the Kataeb of the outcome of the meeting in Maarab [between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil],” Ferzli told reporters in Bikfaya.
“After today's meeting, we are more convinced that the Orthodox law is the [viable] choice while maintaining hope of finding another law that receives Lebanese consensus,” he added.
Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour from MP Walid Jumblatt's ministerial bloc said Wednesday that the June elections should be held based on the current law if no agreement on a new law was reached.
“It is clear that the proposal which has received majority approval is the hybrid law ... we shouldn't eliminate the possibility of adopting the 1960 law in case no agreement is reached on a new electoral law,” he said, after a meeting with caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
He added that priority should be to hold the polls based on a new law.
“We are waiting to see the result of the current contacts with the patriarch and Bkirki,” Abu Faour said, referring to Bishop Bulos Matar’s series of meetings in the past days with various officials and politicians.
In his meeting, Matar relayed Bkirki’s message that elections should be held on time with a law that guarantees fair Christian representation.
