Phalange Party Urges Christians to Agree on Law Ensuring 'Proper Representation'
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The Phalange Party on Tuesday called on the Christian parties to agree on an electoral law for the 2013 parliamentary polls that would guarantee “proper Christian representation.”
In a statement issued after its political bureau's weekly meeting, the party urged “the Christian leaders and lawmakers in particular to agree on what guarantees proper Christian representation."
Christian political forces are locked in a heated debate over which electoral law would best represent the community in parliament, with opposition parties proposing a winner-takes-all system that would divide Lebanon into 50 electorates and the Free Patriotic Movement backing the Orthodox Gathering proposal under which each sect would elect its own MPs.
“It is shameful that our Muslim partners have said that they would accept any law Christians might agree on, while Christians remain unable to reach consensus over what can serve the interest of their community,” the Phalange Party added in its statement.
02 October 2012, 21:24
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Is the question here whether non-Christian members of Parliament should be tolerated or even encouraged, as an experiment?
03 October 2012, 05:19
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Can any middle of the road Christian leader propose a middle of the road win-win solution?
Please find some common ground and spare us more Christian division.
The Pope's visit seems to have not softened any hearts, especially Aoun's rigid and anti-Christian sentiment !.
03 October 2012, 11:28
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Proportional Representation is the only system that would work in the interest of the Christians, whether under the CoM proposal or the Orthodox law. Any majority system would be unfair and easy to manipulate! Studies have shown that the Geagea proposal leads to Christians electing less than half their representatives.
It would be the worse law ever, especially that it is much easier to buy votes in smaller districts! Instead of having to buy 10.000 votes in Matn, you only have to buy a few thousands in a smaller district. Fraud will be easy and cheap!
I'm not for the Orthodox law, but as a compromise it would be the best for the Christians. If Geagea and Gemayel refuse it, it means that they don't have the Christian's interests at heart and are afraid of losing!
