It has become determined that Lebanon's various political parties believe that a new electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary elections must be devised in April, although the outcome so far shows lack in groundwork to build a new law on, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.
A hybrid electoral law proposal assembled by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, under which 64 MPS would be elected according to the proportional representation system and 64 others would be elected by their respective sects under a winner-takes-all system, did not meet the consent of all political parties, said the daily.
“It has been decided that going to the government is the title of the next phase in April,” a prominent source told the daily, adding “there is no more time for play or gambling.”
On the possibility of vacuum at the parliament, the source assured that officials realize the risks it implicates Lebanon in, he said: “Sayings about vacuum are over. There will be no vacuum at all. The entire institutions will continue to function normally. Starting with the President, all officials at all levels fear that matter (vacuum) because once we are indulged in it, it will be very difficult to get out of.”
Ministerial sources working closely on the elections line said Prime Minister Saad Hariri held separate telephone conversations with Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Bassil -who will return from Australia on Sunday- which will open wide the door for discussions next week, said the daily.
The sources added: “The period between the present and the end of the parliament's term on June 20 is a delicate stage,” and stressed that despite the “lack” of progress in the election file “we can prepare a law and we approve a voting system.”
The political parties are bickering over amending the current 1960 majoritarian election law which divides seats among the different religious sects.
Hizbullah has repeatedly called for an electoral law fully based on proportional representation but al-Mustaqbal Movement and Druze leader MP Walid Jumblat have both rejected the proposal.
Mustaqbal argues that Hizbullah's arms would prevent serious competition in the party's strongholds while Jumblat has warned that such an electoral system would “marginalize” the minority Druze community whose presence is concentrated in the Chouf and Aley areas.
Date: 31/03/2017
