Miqati Denies Resignation, Says Cabinet Safeguarded Country at Critical Stage

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Tuesday that the cabinet will not step down, pointing out that the so-called Orthodox Gathering electoral law instigates federalism, cantons and undermines the Taef accord.

“The cabinet has preserved Lebanon over the past two years, which were the most difficult, dangerous and complicated stages that the country had to pass through,” Miqati told As Safir newspaper.

Sources close to the premier confirmed in comments published in An Nahar his statements, pointing out that some sides are counting on the differences that recently surfaced between the government members to press forward Miqati's resignation.

The sources noted that contacts are ongoing to bridge the gap between the cabinet members and to resolve the thorny issues step-by-step.

Concerning the dispute over the electoral law, Miqati reiterated to As Safir the importance of agreeing on a consensual electoral law.

“The 1960 law mechanism is plainly administrative... I will be harmed the most if we adopted this electoral law,” the PM said.

He shrugged off criticism over inking a decree calling for the elections on June 9 based on the 1960 winner-takes-all system “let us concentrate on the formula where Muslims elect Christian MPs and vice versa based on the current sectarian division.”

The Orthodox Gathering proposal was adopted by the joint parliamentary committees but the draft-law was criticized by several officials.

The proposal, which considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, has been rejected by President Michel Suleiman, Miqati, the centrist Progressive Socialist Party, the opposition al-Mustaqbal movement and the March 14 opposition's Christian independent lawmakers.