Lebanese MPs concede on deadline for electoral law discussions

The parliamentary committees' session which was launched on Thursday morning, was adjourned by the afternoon.

The committees convened to discuss the law of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Once the session ended, MP Sami Gemayel stated that a deadline was suggested by some participating MPs in order to draft the electoral law in time for apt voting. "This way, each bloc is responsible for its position," he said.

For his part, MP Ali Fayad alluded that some of the deputies used the arms issue as an alibi to justify their rejection of the proportional representation draft law.

Fayad added that these deputies are relating the arms issue to the proportional system and not the majoritarian system since it serves their interest, stressing that  proportional representation protects the minorities and encourages diversity.

As for MP Ibrahim Kanaan, his statements indicated a reluctance to futile talks as per his words. 

"Money and arms have their effect on the electoral process but neither proportionality nor majority can assure clean elections. This isn't how the problem is contained", he affirmed.

Kanaan also stressed that the discussions should remain isolated from all influential factors. "The districts divisions and the electoral law that will be chosen must follow technical and constitutional norms", he stated.  

As for MP George Adwan, he reported that today's session marked a considerable progress since a number of deputies agreed on limiting the discussions' period.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed that he requested during the session that the electoral draft law be finalized and subsequently ratified by the end of 2012 "so that the ministry can prepare for the elections."

"The discussions were serious and everyone is convinced that a new electoral law should be endorsed", he commented.

Earlier in the morning, MPs Georges Adwan, Boutros Harb and Sami Gemayel  submitted to the Parliament’s General Secretariat an electoral draft law based on 50 smaller districts.