Berri: All Electoral Draft Laws Will be Considered Until We Find One that Meets Approval of All Parties

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that any electoral draft law that suggests tipping the victory of a particular political group over another would only receive rejection from the other, which compels the necessity to agree on a law that finds the approval and reassurance of all sides, the An Nahar daily said Saturday.

In an interview to the daily Berri stressed that “efforts are underway to study all proposed draft law projects until we find the appropriate one that finds approval of all parties.”

On Thursday, the joint parliamentary committees formed an electoral subcommittee to study the disputed issues concerning the electoral draft law referred to the parliament regrading distribution of districts and the electoral system. The committee is expected to hold its first meeting on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Farid Makari.

On the 50 small-sized districts proposal put forward by Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea, Berri said that it guarantees the christian MPs elected entirely on the votes of Christians less than the project presented by the government, he said “the government project gives the christian community a greater number of deputies elected on the votes of Christians."

The government approved in August a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 electoral districts, however, the opposition's proposal made by MPs Adwan, Sami Gemayel and Butros Harb of March 14 alliance supports the formation of 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system, while a plan suggested by the Change and Reform bloc allows every sect to elect its own MPs under a proportional representation system with Lebanon as a single district.

The Maronite bishops council rejected in September the 1960 electoral law because “it does not ensure fair representation.” They also oppose any amendment to the 1960 law, “because it resulted in representation that violates coexistence.”

Media reports said this week that President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri agreed to adopt a draft law that combines the proportional representation and winner-takes-all systems as a settlement to the sharp differences among Lebanese political foes over the matter.

According to the report, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat have previously voiced their support to this proposal.