Bkirki Follow-Up Committee Discusses Electoral Law with Suleiman
The committee tasked by the Bkirki Maronite Summit to follow up on the issue of drafting a new electoral law stressed Friday during talks with President Michel Suleiman its “keenness on real national partnership among the country’s components.”
It also emphasized its “adherence to coexistence, pluralism and equal power-sharing,” according to a statement it issued after the meeting at the Baabda Palace.
The committee comprises MPs Boutros Harb, Georges Adwan, Alain Aoun and Sami Gemayel, and ex-ministers Youssef Saade and Ziad Baroud.
The envoys briefed the president on the committee’s “approach concerning the new electoral law, stressing the need that this law guarantee proper and effective representation for all the Lebanese components,” the statement said.
On December 16 Maronite leaders gathered in Bkirki stressed the importance of real partnership and equality between Muslims and Christians.
“This issue transcends demographic and political considerations and neglecting it will threaten Lebanon’s national unity,” they said.
“Disregarding it may also pave the way to reconsidering the country’s entire structure,” they added.
This equality should take place through proper representation for Christians and Muslims in parliamentary elections, which has been stressed through the National Reconciliation treaty and each sect’s right to elect its representative, they explained.
Furthermore, the Maronite leaders reached an agreement to form a follow up committee that would launch consultations with all factions in Lebanon based on the “Orthodox meeting, which the gatherers agreed provided a suitable formula that would strengthen Christian-Muslim equality.”
The Orthodox meeting called for each sect to elect its own candidate based on proportional representation during parliamentary elections.
The Maronite meeting was aimed at discussing an electoral law in an attempt to find common grounds between the bickering politicians, in the fourth meeting between them in nine months.
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi headed the meeting between Phalange Party chief Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, the head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea, and Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh.
Maronite MPs and several bishops also attended the talks that were held at the seat of the church in Bkirki.
Three such meetings had been previously held in April, June and September.
Following its meeting with Suleiman, the follow up committee will hold talks with the rest of the political leaders and forces in the country.
Source: Naharnet
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