Qassem Warns of Vote-Buying during 2013 Ballots, Calls for Dialogue
Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Wednesday that consensus over the electoral law for the upcoming 2013 elections can be reached through the resumption of dialogue among all parties.
“Hizbullah would enter dialogue with anyone and in the end the electoral law will be issued through the parliament, which includes various political blocs,” Qassem said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.
He warned of vote-buying, ruling out that Hizbullah’s arms would play a role in the ballots to affect the votes of the people.
“We have the right to talk about the risks of the expected vote-buying,” Qassem stated.
He pointed out that the arms of the resistance are only targeted against Israel, reiterating Hizbullah’s rejection to postponing the elections.
Qassem voiced his support to the adoption of an electoral law based on proportional representation.
“We are ready to discuss the matter thoroughly with all parties in order to reach a fair electoral law,” he told the daily.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel had proposed recently an electoral law based on proportional representation to be adopted in the 2013 parliamentary polls.
The proposition had sparked controversy among the rival political parties, as Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat rejected the proposal, while the March 8 forces have voiced their support for it.
The March 14-led opposition has meanwhile maintained its commitment to the amended 1960 law that was adopted during the 2009 parliamentary elections.
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