Suleiman, Miqati Sign Electoral Decree to Hold Elections on June 9

President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati signed on Monday the decree calling on electoral bodies to hold the parliamentary elections on June 9, the National News Agency reported.

"Signing the decree does not necessarily mean adopting the 1960's electoral law in the elections,” Suleiman noted, explaining that this step is a “constitutional commitment and responsibility”.

Suleiman called for reaching a consensus over a new electoral law, based on the cabinet's draft proposal that was referred to the parliament.

The council of minister's suggestion is based on a proportional representation system with 13 medium-sized electoral districts.

PM Miqati had signed the decree earlier on Monday, referring it to Baabda for Suleiman's approval.

The rival political parties in the country are yet to agree on a draft law after the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal by the joint parliamentary committees drew a sharp debate among the opposition's faction and with rival coalitions.

The controversial draft law that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs.

It has been also criticized by Suleiman and Miqati.