March 8 MPs Describe Signing Electoral Decree as 'Black Day' in History
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
March 8 coalition lawmakers considered on Tuesday the signing of the electoral decree a “black day” in the history of legislation, stressing that it will not be approved by the parliament.
“We reject the adoption of the 1960 law... It will not be approved” by the parliament, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, who is loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, told reporters gathered at the parliament.
Several March 8 MPs held a meeting at the parliament to discuss the decree signed by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Monday that calls on electoral bodies to hold the parliamentary elections on June 9.
“No one has the right to surpass the authorities of the parliament,” Kanaan stressed.
He pointed out that statements confirming that the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law will not be adopted “surpass the division of power.”
“Toppling the agreement on adopting the Orthodox proposal is a dangerous precedent,” Kanaan added.
Suleiman has said he would challenge the Orthodox plan before the Constitutional Council if it is approved by parliament, while Miqati stressed that the proposal will not pass, revealing that he has “ways to block it.”
Kanaan noted that officials should respect the constitutional deadlines to hold the polls on time based on a new electoral law that respects equality, which is represented by the Orthodox draft-law.
An Nahar quoted earlier on Monday parliamentary sources as saying that March 19 is the deadline to propose a new electoral draft-law or else other options will be on the table, including the technical postponement of the polls.
The rival parties are yet to agree on a draft-law after the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal by the joint parliamentary committees, which drew a sharp debate among the opposition's factions and with foes.
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 draft-law has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, the centrist National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by Suleiman and Miqati.
A delegation headed after Tuesday's meeting in parliament to Ain el-Tineh to brief Speaker Nabih Berri on the stance adopted by the March 8 MPs.
"Signing the electoral decree takes us back to the starting point," Kanaan told reporters after talks with Berri.
The delegation included Kanaan, AMAL's Development and Liberation bloc MP Ali Bazzi and Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance bloc lawmaker Ali Ammar.
05 March 2013, 14:20
55
al-kafi is an M14 loser who's still reeling from the Qubayet loss. It's ok, we understand, but you better get used to it, little one, it's only the beginning.
05 March 2013, 14:45
22
Clearly Miqati and Suleiman have dropped the ball as far as the election law ... the only question is: Why did they drop the ball?
The powers that be, the oligarchs, are hoping to use the confusion and disharmony to place their candidates into the Presidency and Prime Ministry.
After much chaos "cooler heads", that is those representing the entrenched special interests, will be "begged" to re-establish order.
05 March 2013, 15:53
33
someone needs to explain to kanaan there is no vote required on the 1960 law: it is already a law in action.
the president and PM did what they had to do as per the constitution even if that does not appeal to m8.
if m8 are not going to accept a consensual law then it will be the 1960 law. they cannot just impose a law where the result is kown, just to control the country.
they are delusional if they think this country can be governed by anything but consensus.
05 March 2013, 15:53
24
someone needs to explain to kanaan there is no vote required on the 1960 law: it is already a law in action.
the president and PM did what they had to do as per the constitution even if that does not appeal to m8.
if m8 are not going to accept a consensual law then it will be the 1960 law. they cannot just impose a law where the result is kown, just to control the country.
they are delusional if they think this country can be governed by anything but consensus.
05 March 2013, 16:53
00
in a democratic state
legislative power
judiciary power
executive power
in order for democracy to work , each one of these will do its job without interference of the others
so please in lebanon in order to have a real democracy one should not interfere in the job of the others
god bless lebanon
05 March 2013, 17:11
25
going through the comments, it is interesting to note the bullying going on from mowaten and ft against al-kafi in an effort to silence him.
aal -kafi has presented real facts about shia that are documented, and now they cry foel.
it is interesting to note that these two have been accusing anyone against their opinion as a salafi, Israeli,... and they cannot take true facts whenever it is presented to them, trying to hide the shia extremism at any cost.
grow up guys :)
05 March 2013, 19:04
13
Great move by Suleiman n Mikati!... Yes we need a new law, but not this one! I'd rather the 1960 law, than being blackmailed into calling off the elections. Hizballah is a resistance group, they're not fit to run a modern government. We need technocrats, our tourist minister doesn't speak English! :/
On a separate note... I don't think al-kafi is an Israeli. I'd guess he's about 19yrs old, a non practicing Sunni, lives abroad in maybe Australia or America, visited Lebanon a couple summers ago, but his family won't let him come here for university cause its too dangerous. :)
Al-kafi honestly, how close am I??? :p
06 March 2013, 00:46
00
Black day was when black shirts staged a coup d'etat! Black day was when the hizb stood behind Hariri's assasination! Black day was when Gibran was assasinated with the help of the hizb airport intelligence ! Black day was when the Istizz closed the parliament doors !
Bright day will be when we get rid of all this clique, and the hizb is held accountable along with his paymasters for all the political assassinations they're responsible for! Bright day is when Bashar's head rolls, and the baathist criminals face a Nuremberg style tribunal !
06 March 2013, 02:37
01
@mowaten
The story in the link was interesting and may or may not apply to @al-kafi.
Guess who else it is most likely to apply to as well, yup you and @FlameThrower as well. Both your postings are as ubiquitous, if not more so, than @al-kafi's.
Very interesting revelation indeed.
