Bkirki Maronite Summit: Orthodox Meeting Proposals Ensure Christian-Muslim Equality in Elections
Maronite leaders meeting in Bkirki stressed on Friday the importance of real partnership and equality between Muslims and Christians.
They said in a statement: “This issue transcends demographic and political considerations and neglecting it will threaten Lebanon’s national unity.”
“Disregarding it may also pave the way to reconsidering the country’s entire structure,” they added.
This equality should take place through the Christians and Muslims proper representation in parliamentary elections, which has been stressed through the National Reconciliation treaty and each sect’s right to elect its representative, they explained.
Furthermore, the Maronite leaders reached an agreement to form a follow up committee that would launch consultations with all factions in Lebanon based on the “Orthodox meeting, which the gatherers agreed provided a suitable formula that would strengthen Christian-Muslim equality.”
The Orthodox meeting called for each sect to elect its own candidate based on proportional representation during parliamentary elections.
The Maronite meeting was aimed at discussing an electoral law in an attempt to find common grounds between the bickering politicians, in the fourth meeting between them in nine months.
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi headed the meeting between Phalange Party chief Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, the head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea, and Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh.
Maronite MPs and several bishops also attended the talks that were held at the seat of the church on Friday morning.
Three such meetings have been previously held in April, June and September.
An Nahar daily said that a four-member committee, that includes MPs Georges Adwan, Alain Aoun and Sami Gemayel and former Minister Youssef Saadeh, has prepared a report on the election law.
The committee’s members told the newspaper they have so far held more than ten meetings, in which church representatives and experts have taken part.
They stressed that the different Maronite factions have reached agreement on some issues in the electoral law while they have disagreed on others.
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