Support of Christians for Orthodox Proposal Likely to Put them at Loggerheads with al-Mustaqbal

Lebanon's top Christian parties from both the majority and opposition camps confirmed on Monday their support for the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, a move that is likely to put them at loggerheads with the opposition’s al-Mustaqbal movement on an electoral draft-law.

In remarks to As Safir daily, Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel, who is a Christian leader in the opposition March 14 alliance, said: “We care for achieving the right representation for Christians.”

Gemayel said that a draft-law proposed by Christian opposition MPs, which divides Lebanon into 50 districts based on a winner-takes-all system, guarantees the minimum acceptable level of representation.

“But it hasn't received enough support similar to the Orthodox Gathering proposal which guaranteed a parliamentary majority,” he told As Safir.

Despite his backing of the 50 district draft-law, Gemayel held onto the Orthodox proposal that considers Lebanon a single district for winning the majority support.

Asked about his ties with al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri, the former president said he was keen on the alliance among the March 14 opposition parties.

He also hoped that a solution would be reached to preserve the alliance.

Al-Mustaqbal is among several parties that have announced their rejection to the Orthodox proposal, saying it deepens sectarian divisions.

In similar remarks to As Safir, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, from the March 8 majority alliance, reiterated that there was no alternative to the Orthodox proposal.

“It is the best and there isn't any more convenient”proposal for “achieving a true representation for Christians,” he said.

Asked about the stance of the Phalange party and the Lebanese Forces, another Christian opposition party, Aoun said: “I don't want to judge their intentions but what we've seen so far is that they are not backing off from the proposal.”

Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun, a member of the subcommittee that discussed suggested draft-laws, echoed similar remarks, telling An Nahar that the Orthodox proposal should be referred to the joint parliamentary committees for discussion after it received the majority's support.

“Six out of nine members of the subcommittee backed it,” he said.

Another member of the subcommittee, Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan, reiterated that his party backs alternative proposals that guarantee a balanced representation.

“But if there was no consensus on that, then the alternative would be the Orthodox” proposal, he told An Nahar.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Ahmed Fatfat snapped back, however, telling Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that the proposal would not be approved.