Berri: No Just Christian Representation with Small Electorates

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed on Wednesday that a law based on small electorates suits the interests of some parties only, denying that is gives a just representation of the entire Lebanese Christian community.

Berri's message was transmitted by lawmakers he met after his weekly discussions with Lebanese MPs in Ain al-Tineh. During the meetings, the Speaker also announced the formation of a unit that will be dedicated to studying proposed electoral draft laws.

According to Berri, this unit will be representative of joint parliamentary committees and it will discuss the law to be adopted in the elections, as well the distribution and division of electoral districts.

"The unit will take this issue out of political debates and bids," Berri expressed.

Parliamentary committees have been meeting regularly to discuss proposed electoral draft laws without reaching a consent.

March 14 coalition's proposal suggested dividing Lebanon into 50 electoral districts and adopting popular majority, explaining that this would give a just representation for Lebanese Christians. Meanwhile, the current parliamentary majority has pushed for a law based on proportional representation and dividing Lebanon into 13 electoral districts.

"We will adopt any law that gains Christian consent," Berri said.

On the sidelines of his Wednesday deliberations with MPs, Berri also met with former Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to discuss current affairs on the Lebanese and regional scenes.