Jumblat Accepts Government Electoral Law, Says Discussing it with Saniora
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat adopted on Tuesday the electoral draft-law proposed by the government as he revealed that his party is carrying out negotiations with al-Mustaqbal Movement to reach common ground over the matter.
“We are carrying out discussions based on the electoral draft-law proposed by the cabinet and we might reach an agreement between the March 8 and 14 coalitions over the matter after modifying it,” Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
The government approved in August a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.
The Druze leader pointed out that he didn't reject in the first place the electoral draft-law proposed by the government.
“I was opposing the adoption of an electoral law based completely on proportional representation,” Jumblat said.
He described the proposal as “good,” considering that it might open “certain horizons that would end the tension and division.”
Jumblat stressed the importance of bridging the gap between the rival groups.
“We have reached an agreement with the PSP,” a source close to the head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc, Fouad Saniora, confirmed to As Safir.
The sources said that al-Mustaqbal will tackle the matter with its allies later this week.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati welcomed Jumblat's initiative and urged all officials to “meet him half way in order to reach a consensual electoral law.”
“We have to block the way to any sectarian electoral law that would take the country to the unknown,” Miqati's visitors quoted him as saying.
The rival parties are yet to agree on an electoral law after the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law by the joint parliamentary committees created a sharp debate between the opposition and rival coalitions.
The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
But the proposal has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, Jumblat's centrist National Struggle Front, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by President Michel Suleiman and Miqati.
26 February 2013, 13:48
12
Here we go ... all groups must agree to the new election law so that nothing changes ... The looting of Lebanon by the wealthy ownership class will continue unabated.
26 February 2013, 13:51
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Photo-shopped to look much better just like the picture of Lebanon's future under the current neoliberal trio of Suleiman, Miqati and Berri.
26 February 2013, 16:23
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Can someone help me understand the logic here? The proposal is for "proportional representation system". By proportional, do they mean a respresenation by skills, by age, by gender, by region... or by sect?
From my understanding, there is a quota for the number of MPs for each sect How is this NOT sectarian????? And why is this better that having each sect vote for its own representatives? What will happen to those who live outside Lebanon? Will they also divide the world in regions?
27 February 2013, 03:46
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peacelover thumbs up you speak from the heart. walidbeik is a captain on aship thats taking the druze on a wildseas to get us on asafe shore ,he knows politics like we know theback of our hands his radar is on the worldnews thats why we will never understan his viewsand readings,just watch who and when big countries politiotions come to lebanon they meet with him first before anybody else.so when he talk wait couple of months to understand his knowledge...there;s more+more to see .
