Mouawad Meets Geagea: We Agreed on Common Strategy for Zgharta Elections

Independence Movement leader Michel Mouawad on Thursday stressed that an electoral law based on small electorates would guarantee Christians the best representation, unveiling a new common strategy with the Lebanese Forces for the 2013 elections in the Zgharta region.

“The electoral law proposed by the Christian forces in the March 14 camp, which is based on 50 electorates, would ensure proper representation,” Mouawad said after a meeting in Maarab with LF leader Samir Geagea.

Christian opposition parties have proposed an electoral law based on small electorates and a winner-takes-all system, while the March 8 forces have rejected this suggestion and warned that it would divide Lebanon along sectarian lines.

But Mouawad noted that “the same Christian forces in the March 8 camp -- which are rejecting small electorates under several excuses – had demanded an electoral law based on small electorates during a broad Christian meeting in December 2007.”

“In 2007, all these March 8 Christian forces considered that the small electorates law is the most representative, while in 2012 (they are saying that) this law would fragment the country and would not ensure proper representation for the Lebanese,” Mouawad lamented.

“If we truly want the electoral law to ensure proper Christian representation and participation in power, the question is: if we as Christians managed to elect 64 out of 64 MPs, would that be enough to ensure real powersharing?” Mouawad wondered.

“If Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun alone manages to win 64 seats, will that give him the ability to take part in the decision to send a drone to Israel? Will that make him a partner in turning Syria into a land of jihad?” Mouawad added.

He stressed that proper Christian representation would only be ensured through “strengthening the state's ability to practice its sovereignty across all Lebanese regions, and reducing the hegemony and influence of arms over the political decision, or else participation would only be illusionary.”

“What is the use of guaranteeing 60 seats if parliament does not enjoy free will? Therefore, we reject any law based on proportional representation which, amid the current circumstances, would only strengthen the hegemony of arms over political life,” Mouawad went on to say.

He also revealed that “the meeting with Geagea was an opportunity to lay out a common strategy for elections in the Zgharta district.”

“We agreed on serious steps that will start materializing gradually in the coming days and weeks,” Mouawad added.