Hizbullah and Mustaqbal Urge Govt. to Devise 'Modern Electoral Law'

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement on Tuesday called for devising a “modern electoral law” in order to hold the 2017 parliamentary elections on time.

“The conferees congratulated the new government and described its formation as a positive step,” the two parties said in a joint statement issued after their 38th dialogue session in Ain el-Tineh.

They also called on the government to be “quick in addressing the vital issues, topped by devising a modern electoral law that paves the way for holding the parliamentary polls on time.”

Earlier in the day, al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc had stressed that it cannot accept an electoral law fully based on the proportional representation system as long as Hizbullah holds onto its controversial arsenal of arms.

Hizbullah has repeatedly called for an electoral law fully based on proportional representation but other political parties, especially Mustaqbal, have rejected the proposal, arguing that the party's weapons would prevent serious competition in regions where Hizbullah has clout.

Mustaqbal, the Lebanese Forces and the Democratic Gathering have meanwhile proposed a hybrid electoral law that mixes the proportional representation and the winner-takes-all systems. Speaker Nabih Berri has also proposed a hybrid law.

The country has not voted for a parliament since 2009, with the legislature instead twice extending its own mandate.

The 2009 polls were held under an amended version of the 1960 electoral law and the next elections are scheduled for May 2017.