News

Members of the parliamentary subcommittee tasked with studying law proposals resumed their work Thursday with MPs voicing mixed views on whether consensus can emerge over a hybrid voting system for the upcoming elections.

During the committee meeting, Speaker Nabih Berri also handed lawmakers a new proposal that would see half of Parliament elected on the basis of the Orthodox Gathering format and the other under a winner-takes-all system with Lebanon divided into 26 districts.

By Hassan Abdulrahim Al-Sayed

A matter of weeks separate us from June 30, 2013, the date set by Emiri declaration (number 18 for the year 2010), for the current term of the appointed Advisory Council to end.

Will it be renewed for another term? Or will we actually witness legislative elections this year, years after the law stipulating the need for elections and the institutionalization of them was issued?

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.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described the new cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Wednesday as solid and dynamic.

Muhyiddin who thanked the Prime Minister for retaining him as his deputy said the new cabinet, comprising new and experienced leaders, had the ability to carry out the transformation agenda that can improve the economy of the country.

He said the cabinet line up comprised experienced leaders from 'outside' the government, business entity, technocrats and representatives from Sabah and Sarawak.

Abu Dhabi: The prime suspect accused of heading a clandestine organisation that was plotting to overthrow the government defended himself in court on Tuesday.

He claimed the dispute was triggered not over the organisation’s legitimacy but over the signing of a petition asking for free elections of Federal National Council (FNC) members.

The Supreme Court’s National Security Court concluded the five-hour session by postponing deliberations until May 20, to hear the final argument from the defence attorney and from four more suspects.

Thousands of ruling party supporters gathered in Mother Theresa Square in Tirana on Monday, waving the party’s flag and chanting Berisha’s name after he walked onto the stage.

“The June 23 parliamentary elections present a big choice for Albanian citizens,” Berisha told his cheering supporters.

“Our alternative has at heart your freedom, wealth and free enterprise, while the opposition wants to raise taxes and make Albania a country that works for its government,” he said.

President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday appointed senior career diplomat Ershad Ahmadi as deputy minister of foreign affairs for political affairs, replacing Jawed Ludin.

Prior to the latest appointment, Ahmadi served as director-general of 5th Political Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dealing with the Continents of Americas and Australia, the Office of Administrative Affairs said.

The Constitution Conciliation Commission has extended its working period until July 1 with the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) approval, which initially was persistently opposing this. 

Extending the commission’s work for two months is related to the peace process, but it is also a fact that this is based on some other calculations and concerns. The ruling party wants to see the concrete results of the withdrawal until mid-summer and also, it wants to hold the opportunity to change the game plan in the new Constitution process according to developments.