Kanaan: Holding upcoming elections under 60's law unacceptable

Change and Reform Bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan along with MPs from the Majority parliamentary bloc met on Monday with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.             

Following the meeting, MP Kanaan said that deputies discussed with the speaker the coming stage and the parliamentary elections.                    

MP Kanaan said that the stance of the majority MPs is clear adding that the 1960’s electoral law “has been buried”.                       

Kanaan added that no one has the right to say that the Orthodox Gathering’s electoral law will not be applicable since this issue is only related to the Parliament.             

Earlier, a meeting of the majority MPs was held in the Nejmeh Square.                

Following the meeting, MP Ibrahim Kanaan stressed that seizing the role of the executive authority by saying that the Orthodox Gathering's draft law will not be passed is a violation of the authorities’ separation principle.           

In this context, Kanaan urged the respect of the constitutional deadlines under a new electoral law which provides apt representation of all Lebanese parties.               

These statements follow the inking of an electoral decree that stipulates that the elections take place on June 9th, 2013. The decree was signed by President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday and has since spurred fears that elections will be conducted under the rule of the 1960's law for failure to reach a new consensual law by rival Lebanese political factions.