Berri Seeks Adoption of Electoral Law Acceptable by Hariri, Jumblat

Speaker Nabih Berri has launched an initiative for the adoption of a draft-law on the parliamentary elections that would consider Lebanon a single electoral district to appease both ex-PM Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat who have rejected proportionality.

Berri’s initiative lies in carrying out the polls in 2013 on the basis of a single electoral district through a proportional representation to form a parliament that would preserve the rights of sects and shares while limiting the high-level of sectarianism, As Safir daily reported Tuesday.

The parliamentary elections will be followed by the formation of a senate as stipulated by the Taef Accord, the newspaper said.

In an interview published in al-Mustaqbal daily on Sunday, Hariri held President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati responsible for the adoption of the proportional representation draft-law proposed by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel amid the presence of Hizbullah’s arms.

Jumblat has also rejected proportionality amid the absence of a reform package that includes the modernization of several institutions.

Berri told As Safir that his initiative can find common grounds with Jumblat whom the opposition March 14 forces are seeking to throw out of the parliamentary majority.

The speaker slammed Hariri over his remarks on arms, saying “his excuse over his rejection of proportionality is not convincing given that it has become clear that everyone has weapons.”

But Berri hailed the former premier’s call for lowering the voting age to 18, hoping that he would be able to convince his allies to support his stance.