Jumblat Warns Lack of Consensus on Vote Law Would Destroy Lebanon
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat warned on Monday that lack of consensus on an electoral draft-law would lead the country to destruction.
In remarks to As Safir newspaper, Jumblat said consensus is necessary more than any other time, adding time has not run out yet.
“Giving up to the impossibility of consensus means we are surrendering to the destruction of the country,” he warned.
The PSP chief, who is also the head of the National Struggle Front bloc, reiterated that the rival parties should work hard to end the current crisis on the electoral draft-law.
He said the best solution would be the adoption of a draft-law proposed by the government and backed by President Michel Suleiman by introducing some amendments to it.
Suleiman has on several occasions called for the adoption of the proposal, which divides Lebanon into 13 medium-sized districts based on a proportional representation system.
Jumblat, whose party is a strong critic of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, reiterated that the elections should be held on time.
“The extension of the parliament’s mandate is totally rejected,” he stressed.
In an interview with al-Jazeera TV network on Sunday, Jumblat expressed belief that Speaker Nabih Berri will not allow the adoption of the Orthodox proposal because essential Lebanese factions reject it.
“Berri is keen on accord in Lebanon,” he said.
The proposal, which divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, has been approved by the joint parliamentary committees, the last step before Berri calls for a legislative session to adopt it.
But the speaker has stressed that he was giving rival parties more time to reach consensus on another draft-law after the opposition al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front and the March 14 opposition's independent Christian MPs rejected it.
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