Suleiman Urges MPs to Shy Away from Electoral Law that Increases Sectarian Divide
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman hoped on Monday that lawmakers would work for the nation's interest in their attempt to agree on a modern electoral law that should avoid worsening the sectarian divide.
In a statement issued by the presidential palace, Suleiman hoped that the joint parliamentary committees, which convened for four days on Monday, would “take into consideration the national interest and work for holding the elections on time out of their respect for the basic principle of rotation of power.”
He also urged lawmakers to “preserve national unity and coexistence, and to keep their distance from all plans that consolidate sectarianism because they are unconstitutional and harm civil peace.”
“This has been no longer acceptable by the absolute majority of the Lebanese who are calling for justice, freedom and equality, and are holding onto democracy,” Suleiman said.
The joint parliamentary committees convened on Monday in an attempt to agree on a draft-law in four days of intense consultations.
The so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, which calls for a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, is on the agenda of the meetings.
Suleiman on several occasions announced his rejection of the proposal, calling instead for the adoption of a draft-law approved by the cabinet last year and referred to parliament.
The draft-law calls for 13 medium-sized districts under a proportional representation system.
Suleiman urged the rival MPs to study a “modern law” that guarantees the best representation for everyone and “is not subject to narrow electoral interests ... that come at the expense of the nation's interest.”
18 February 2013, 14:19
61
there is no elections in 9 june...with the continuous weakening of saado and al mustakbal,who will fill the void?ask walid beik in saudi arabia.el shater yifham.
18 February 2013, 17:47
03
Al mustaqbal should develop balls and go on the attack. They are subject to feroucious attacks by Aoun, al Hizb, et.al. The main problem in Al mustaqbal is structural. There is a leadership vacuum, very weak communications with its supporters and for a party purporting to be a "future"-oriented party, it lacks much of the rules and structures of a modern party.
18 February 2013, 14:43
42
el shater yifham. Sleiman is a tool in the hands of his masters. He does nothing for granting the equal rights for all Lebanese. He should resign immediately because he has gone against the wishes of the majority in Parliament and more particularly those of the Major Christian Blocs in Parliament. The only bloc to reject the Orthodox Proposal is the Mustaqbal bloc who will go to war rather than lose the power granted to them via the Taef and the Saudi MF's. Long Live the Shiites of Lebanon, the nNited Christian Blocs and may God have mercy over the Mustahabal.
18 February 2013, 17:25
13
Christiane - who are sleiman masters? Are you accusing him of treason? Tell me a modern democracy that have the same system as the one you are supporting? Why do you think al taef grant al mustaqbal these super powers? Did these supposed powers protect them in 2007 from their areas being stormed in beirut or from the coup in 2008? Is the mustaqbal the one driving lebanese economy to hell - now with the debt as percentage of GDP increasing rapidely for first time in many years? Do you really think the "shia" are with this proposed law? Why do you say that al mustaqbal will go to war? They are not the one threatening to do so? They said no to this law but if adopted will run in election despite being an illegal one.
18 February 2013, 18:48
13
FM was not involved and called for the law to go after those involved. Also the FM does not have a militia - contrary to the ssnp which has a well trained and armed one. Of course, the ssnp was not unarmed in Halba and there was a firefight between ssnp and some of the residents of Halba. There are some evidences of crimes against ssnp members. What bigjohn forget to tell us is that the ssnp participated in the storming of beirut by the HA et al just before the fighting in Halba. That is nothing to say about the many war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by ssnp during the civil war.
18 February 2013, 16:06
03
I am amazed at those sectarian m8 comments who say one thing and push for the other.
actually mustaqbal is the only remaining non sectarian party in Lebanon for having a wide range of confessions in its ranks.
like Israel, hizbushaitan wants to increase the sectarian divide to justify its sectarian presence. aoun , its puppet, is doing the same for the Christians.
18 February 2013, 16:07
03
I am amazed at those sectarian m8 comments who say one thing and push for the other.
actually mustaqbal is the only remaining non sectarian party in Lebanon for having a wide range of confessions in its ranks.
18 February 2013, 16:08
03
I am amazed at those sectarian m8 comments who say one thing and push for the other.
actually mustaqbal is the only remaining non sectarian party in Lebanon for having a wide range of confessions in its ranks.
like Israel, hizbushaitan wants to increase the sectarian divide to justify its sectarian presence. aoun , its puppet, is doing the same for the Christians.
18 February 2013, 19:03
02
Wise words from Suleiman, if only the rest of the idiot government and opposition blocs were as decent as him.
19 February 2013, 08:21
00
The bag of green shall arrive soon to this lucky SOB waste. Lebanon is definitely cursed into having nothing but unqualified punks at its head. My left foot is more capable than these.
