Jumblat Meets Suleiman as Cabinet Postpones to Tuesday Voting on Electoral Law

Cabinet agreed on Monday to form of a committee to study the development of areas in the northern Bekaa without approving any compensation to cannabis farmers.

The ministers also agreed to postpone discussions on the parliamentary electoral law to a cabinet session on Tuesday.

Acting Information Minister Wael Abou Faour affirmed after the session, which was held at President Michel Suleiman’s summer residence in Beittedine, that the government will continue on “applying the law regarding the destruction of banned crops.”

He announced that the committee charged with studying the development of Bekaa areas will be headed by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and granted a month to submit its proposals to the cabinet.

The minister said that Monday’s cabinet meeting approved a number of elements linked to the electoral law, such as the funding, electoral spending, aspects of the proportional representation system, and allowing expatriates to vote in the elections.

“No agreement has been reached on the size of electoral districts,” added Abou Faour.

The voting on the electoral law, based on proportional representation, will take place on Tuesday and the ministers of the National Struggle Front will object to it, he revealed.

On the case of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims abducted in Syria, the minister relayed Suleiman’s assertions that efforts are underway to ensure their release.

Soon after the end of the cabinet session, the head of the National Struggle bloc MP Walid Jumblat held a meeting with Suleiman at Beiteddine.

He left the meeting without issuing a statement.

Abou Faour told reporters that the meeting has nothing to do with the division of electoral districts.

The An Nahar daily said Monday that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has already informed Miqati about his suggestions on dealing with banned crops.

They include financial compensation and helping farmers grow alternative crops.

The residents of the eastern town of al-Yammouneh ended on Sunday their sit-in that was aimed at protesting the Internal Security Forces’ destruction of cannabis fields.

According to An Nahar, Miqati is determined to resolve their case on the basis that if the government can spend on the fields’ destruction, then it can allocate these funds to help the farmers grow other crops or cannabis used for medical purposes.