Jumblat Accepts Government Electoral Law, Says Discussing it with Saniora
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat adopted on Tuesday the electoral draft-law proposed by the government as he revealed that his party is carrying out negotiations with al-Mustaqbal Movement to reach common ground over the matter.
“We are carrying out discussions based on the electoral draft-law proposed by the cabinet and we might reach an agreement between the March 8 and 14 coalitions over the matter after modifying it,” Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
The government approved in August a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.
The Druze leader pointed out that he didn't reject in the first place the electoral draft-law proposed by the government.
“I was opposing the adoption of an electoral law based completely on proportional representation,” Jumblat said.
He described the proposal as “good,” considering that it might open “certain horizons that would end the tension and division.”
Jumblat stressed the importance of bridging the gap between the rival groups.
“We have reached an agreement with the PSP,” a source close to the head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc, Fouad Saniora, confirmed to As Safir.
The sources said that al-Mustaqbal will tackle the matter with its allies later this week.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati welcomed Jumblat's initiative and urged all officials to “meet him half way in order to reach a consensual electoral law.”
“We have to block the way to any sectarian electoral law that would take the country to the unknown,” Miqati's visitors quoted him as saying.
The rival parties are yet to agree on an electoral law after the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law by the joint parliamentary committees created a sharp debate between the opposition and rival coalitions.
The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
But the proposal has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, Jumblat's centrist National Struggle Front, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by President Michel Suleiman and Miqati.
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