The Orthodox Gathering Law has been approved by the joint committee following the withdrawal of the Future
bloc deputies, Christian independent MPs and lawmakers representing the Progressive Socialist Party.
Following the session, Change and Reform Bloc MP Alain Aoun hailed the decision, stating that "democracy won".
"There were many attempts to hinder the agreement and the discussion of the Orthodox proposal. We made an important step toward holding the elections according to a new electoral law," Aoun said.
The Orthodox proposal does not contradict the constitution and the notion of
coexistence; the path of democracy is more powerful than attempts to topple it, the Change and Reform bloc representative assured.
"We did not achieve victory, we have just completed a phase; awaiting the general authority’s approval."
As for the Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan, he said that today’s development does not bring an end to the search for consensus, adding that the door for discussions will never be closed until a new electoral law is approval by the general authority.
Earlier and upon the opposing blocs withdrawal, MP Ahmad Fatfat said that they
proposed the postponement of the discussion of the draft law’s second article
for 48 hours, in order to allow negotiations to be conducted outside the meeting,
noting that their suggestion was not taken into consideration.
He stressed that they will maintain contacts with
the political parties which are willing to reach an agreement, warning against the
repercussions of the Orthodox draft law “which leads to the unknown and turns
Lebanon to an extremist country,” as he said.
The 2nd article of the law stipulates that elections be held with
Lebanon as one district with each confession voting for its
representatives on the basis of proportionality.
Prior to the session, Berri met with a number of Change
and Reform bloc deputies, including Alain Aoun, Ibrahim Kanaan and Simon Abi
Ramia, who stressed that they will vote for the Orthodox gathering’s proposal
in all its items.
Berri also met with the member of the National
Struggle Front MP Akram Shouhayeb, the member of Loyalty to the Resistance
bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah and member of Development and Liberation bloc MP Ali
Bazzi.
In this context, MP Nawaf al-Mousawi stressed that
the Orthodox proposal reflects the Lebanese reality, while MP Ibrahim Kanaan
said that the parliamentary democratic work should not be hindered.
On Monday the 1st article of the law was passed stipulating the increase of the number of deputies from 128 to 134. It also ensures 67 Christian MPs voted upon solely by the Christian community.
The parliamentary joint committee's session which resumed in al-Nejmeh
Square on Tuesday was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Nabih
Berri, and in the absence of Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Reactions:
Via Twitter Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri bewailed the
approval of the law, stating that today is a “black day” in the history of parliament.
For his part, MP Boutros
Harb said that the Orthodox law will be appealed by President Michel Sleiman
before the Constitutional Council leading to the delay of the elections as per
the statements of the Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel in this regard.
Meanwhile Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel called for maintaining a positive atmosphere following the decision reiterating that the general authority will be responsible for the final approval of the law and "not the joint committee". The Orthodox Gathering Law garnered consensus by Christian partisans at Bkerkeh, hence why we voted for it, he said.
"Our contacts will remain open from hereon after until a law that truly ensures fair representation is reached".
In turn, Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun called Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai, Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea and Kataeb leader Amine Gemayel to congratulate them on the approval of the Orthodox Gathering Law by the joint committee.
Later in the day civil society activists cut off the road outside Parliament in protest of Orthodox Gathering Law’s approval by the joint committee. The road was shortly reopened. For the full story, click
here.
For the full LBCI report, watch the Video above