MP Ghanem: It is worthless for the subcommittee to continue its meetings

The Parliamentary Communications Committee held on Tuesday its third meeting in an attempt to reach an agreement over a new electoral law. The meeting was headed by MP Robert Ghanem and attended by MPs George Adwan, Sami Gemayel, Ahmad Fatfat, Akram Chouhayeb, Alain Aoun, Ali Bazzi, Ali Fayyad, Hagop Pakradounian and Serge Torsarkissian.             

MP Robert Ghanem:                         

Following the session, MP Robert Ghanem announced that the gap between members in the subcommittee remains "large", noting that the country is witnessing a "difficult" situation.                      

“It is worthless for the subcommittee to continue its meetings,” MP Ghanem said.              

MP Ghanem added that time will be given for members of the subcommittee to continue their consultations with members of their political parties.                  

He also said that in case the Parliament did not agree on a new electoral law before the 15th of May, the upcoming parliamentary elections will take place based on the 1960 law.         

MP Ahmad Fatfat:         

For his part, MP Ahmad Fatfat said that the Future bloc suggested a "negotiable" solution, accusing the "other party" of pushing towards political void.  MP Fatfat sounded the alarm saying that the country is witnessing a "very dangerous situation."                          

MP Ali Fayyad:                    

Meanwhile, MP Ali Fayyad stressed on the importance of not suspending the sessions of the parliamentary subcommittee, noting his party’s readiness to discuss the hybrid law.                               

MP Fayyad also asserted that the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc is carrying out deliberations aside from discussions pertaining to the formation of the new government or the crisis taking place in Syria.            

MP Akram Chehayyeb:                              

In the same framework, National Struggle Front MP Akram Chehayyeb said that he presented written remarks in regards to the draft law presented by Speaker Berri stressing that his party is serious and open to discussing any formula that ensures consensus.       

MP Serge Torsarkissian:                          

Future bloc MP Serge Torsarkissian said that “since the beginning of the meetings, two parties did not give a clear opinion regarding the electoral law” adding that Lebanon is in dire need for a consensual law since the country’s situation is critical.            

MP Georges Adwan:        

In turn, the Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan said that he decided to boycott the upcoming Parliamentary Communications Committee’s sessions since these sessions have become “a waste of time” adding that his party wants to reach an agreement.                 

Adwan added that he will call on Speaker Berri to hold a General Authority session before the 15th of May.           

On another note, MP Adwan said that “the situation at the Lebanese-Syrian border is not reassuring” stressing that Lebanese authorities should take serious measures in this regard.              

MP Alain Aoun:                   

For his part, the Change and Reform Bloc MP Alain Aoun said that his bloc is not ashamed of rejecting an electoral law adding that they did not come to the session to "waste their time".           

MP Aoun stressed that they are adherent to holding the upcoming parliamentary elections on their due time on the basis of the electoral law agreed upon during the Parliament’s General Authority Session.             

MP Sami Gemayel:                  

As for the Kataeb Party MP Sami Gemayel, he said that Hezbollah’s participation along with calls made by others to join the Syrian crisis are rejected since they will deteriorate the country’s situation stressing that “maintaining constitutional institutions and reaching an electoral law are Lebanon’s only solution out of the crisis”.                       

“I urge President Michel Sleiman to call for the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces alongside the UNIFIL at the Lebanese-Syrian borders,” Gemayel said.                         

Gemayel added that since the first day of electoral discussion he said that he will not hinder the process of reaching a new law pointing out that House Speaker Nabih Berri should call for a General Authority session the soonest possible.             

MP Hagop Pakradounian:            

For his part, MP Hagop Pakradounian said that Christians in Lebanon cannot renounce their rights in favor of consensus.           

He urged President Sleiman to call for holding national dialogue sessions "as a last step in a bid to reach a common electoral draft law."