Speaker Nabih Berri revived the subcommittee tasked with studying a new electoral law and headed its first meeting Wednesday after a Parliament session failed to secure quorum to vote on the controversial Orthodox Gathering proposal.
The legislative session was postponed until May 17 to allow members of the committee to resume talks, particularly on a hybrid electoral law which is backed by some March 14 parties and also won Wednesday the support of MP Walid Jumblatt’s parliamentary bloc.
During the one-hour meeting which commenced at 1 p.m., Berri distributed the new proposal. Discussions will resume at 6 p.m.
Various lawmakers in Parliament told The Daily Star that if the committee fails once more to reach an agreement on the hybrid law, considered the only viable option available, elections could be held on the basis of the much opposed amended version of the 1960 law.
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, noticeably, did not head to Parliament and no statement was issued from his office regarding the developments.
Parliament was expected to vote on the Orthodox proposal, which enjoys the support of the main Christian parties and was backed by the March 8 coalition. However, the draft law has been staunchly opposed by the Future Movement, Jumblatt, and some independent Christian MPs.
Speaking after talks with Berri in Nejmeh Square, Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan said his party and the Future Movement would submit the hybrid proposal that came to light late Tuesday.
Describing his party’s shift from the Orthodox law to the hybrid proposal as a “sacrifice,” Adwan stressed that the new draft legislature was not aimed at undermining any political party.
“If some consider that we gave up on some seats, we say we made this sacrifice to achieve Lebanon’s unity ... and we believe everyone should make a compromise,” he told reporters in Parliament.
Under the hybrid proposal, 46 percent of lawmakers would be elected based on the proportional representation system and 54 percent under the winner-takes-all system.
While the Kataeb Party maintained their opposition to their allies’ new formula, MP Michel Aoun slammed the LF for failing to uphold their commitment to the Orthodox proposal.
“We have reservations on the hybrid law that was presented to us and we oppose it which is why we didn’t go along with it,” Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel told reporters.
He added that his party’s main concern related to the districting scheme under the proportional representation part of the draft.
“We will attend any session in order not to obstruct work but we have the right to voice our reservations,” Gemayel said.
Aoun, however, said the LF had blown the chance for securing fair representation for Christians by agreeing on the hybrid law.
“Today, we had been waiting for a historical day, one in which the right of Christians for fair representation could have been restored but statements that have surfaced have proved the opposite,” Aoun, a staunch backer of the Orthodox law, said in Parliament.
“Some of these statements have broken promises and served a blow to the most important [chance] for just representation in Lebanon,” he added.
Aoun also described “some Christians’ approval” of the hybrid law as the same compromise they agreed to in the Taif Accord, Lebanon’s amended Constitution.
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