Independent March 14 Officials Slam Orthodox Law that 'Paves Way for Lebanon's Division'
Independent Christian March 14 lawmakers and officials lamented on Thursday the adoption of the Orthodox Gathering parliamentary electoral law, saying that it harms Lebanon's diversity.
The gatherers said after a meeting at MP Butros Harb's residence: “This law paves the way for the formation of sectarian statelets and the division of Lebanon in a manner that contradicts the country's diversity.”
“We announce our determination to confront the dangerous Orthodox Gathering law at parliament,” they stressed.
“We are determined to reach an agreement over an electoral law that preserves diversity and ensures fair representation and Christian rights,” they added.
“Our rejection of the Orthodox Gathering law represents our rejection of Christian isolation in Lebanon,” they explained.
Moreover, they voiced their concern that the discussions over a new electoral law “veered off their democratic course,” lamenting the fact that only this law was addressed at the joint parliamentary committees
In addition, the independent Christian March 14 officials accused the March 8 camp of exploiting the electoral law debate in order to maintain its position in power even at the expense of delaying the elections, which are set for June.
They added that the March 8 camp, led by Hizbullah, rejected various versions of the hybrid draft law and others based on small-sized districts, “which is a sign that it does not care for the interests of Christians, but only that of their parties.”
The gatherers then vowed confront the efforts of the Syrian regime and Iran to impose their control over Lebanon.
The meeting was attended by deputy Speaker Farid Makari, MPs Michel Pharaon, Fouad al-Saad, Dory Shamoun, Antoine Saad, Nicolas Ghosn, former MP Kamil Ziyadeh, Elias Attallah, Jawad Boulos, Samir Franjieh, Michel Mouawad, and Antoine Haddad.
Harb noted after the meeting: “The Orthodox Gathering law only serves to increase extremism in Lebanon.”
“We seek an alternative to this law that would help guarantee the rights of Christians,” he stressed.
“Fair representation can be ensured through the adoption of single or small-sized districts,” he explained.
For his part, Makari said: “Given the choice between Lebanon's diversity and gaining three or four more Christian lawmakers at parliament, we choose the former.”
“God forgive our Christian allies who approved the Orthodox Gathering law,” he added.
On Tuesday, the joint parliamentary committees approved the Orthodox Gathering proposal, amid a walkout by the lawmakers of al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front and some independent March 14 MPs.
The proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own lawmakers under a proportional representation system.
It has also been met by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati's rejection.
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