Moussa: Hybrid Electoral Laws Stand Best Chance

Member of Parliament Michel Moussa, said on Friday that the hybrid electoral laws that mix proportional representation and the winner-takes-all systems, stood the best chance among other submitted election law drafts.

“Delay in ratifying a new electoral law is due to some existing political disputes over the matter,” said Moussa in an interview to VDL (93.3) radio station.

Moreover, the lawmaker ruled out any possible extension of the Parliament's term, “unless it's a technical one after agreement on a new electoral law.”

Political parties are bickering over amending the current 1960 election law which divides seats among the different religious sects.

Hizbullah has repeatedly called for an electoral law based on proportional representation but other political parties, especially al-Mustaqbal Movement, have rejected the proposal and argued that the party's controversial arsenal of arms would prevent serious competition in regions where the Iran-backed party is influential.

Mustaqbal, the Lebanese Forces and the Progressive Socialist Party 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.