Geagea Says Postponement of 2013 Elections Out of Question
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea revealed on Thursday that his party is expected to submit a proposal before the joint parliamentary committees concerning the new electoral law, reiterating that the postponement of the 2013 parliamentary elections is out of the question.
“We have been preparing a new electoral law to forward it (to parliament) with our allies,” Geagea said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.
Later on Thursday, Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan, Phalange party lawmaker Sami Gemayel, and Butros Harb, another March 14 MP, referred the new proposal of the opposition to parliament's secretariat.
Geagea pointed out that the LF reached an accord with the Phalange party and independents in the March 14 camp, saying discussions are ongoing with the remaining allies.
On the joint parliamentary committees meeting, which will discuss the draft law adopted by the cabinet on the new electoral draft law and a proposal by the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, Geagea said that Thursday's meeting is “a preliminary discussion... We will not back down on presenting our proposal to be discussed later on.”
The government’s draft-law is based on proportional representation and 13 electoral districts.
The joint parliamentary committees are expected to discuss during a session on Thursday the two electoral law proposals.
The LF leader criticized a proposal by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc, saying “it was proposed only for political outbidding.”
“Any serious draft law should be supported by 30 or 50 MPs,” Geagea pointed out, stating that those who presented it already support the draft law adopted by the cabinet.
Change and Reform MPs Alain Aoun and Nehmatallah Abi Nasr's proposal states that every sect would elect its own lawmakers based on proportional representation and Lebanon as a single district.
Geagea ruled out any serious discussion concerning the electoral draft law before the LF present their proposal which is based on smaller electoral districts.
“The LF proposal was based on adopting 60 electoral districts, however, after addressing the matter with our allies, we agreed to adopt 50 districts, which gives the same desired results,” Geagea noted.
He said that his party is seeking to achieve equality between the Lebanese.
Asked about the stance of al-Mustaqbal movement regarding his party's proposal, Geagea said it agreed on it but “discussions are on going over minor details.”
He said that the March 14 camp is also discussing the matter with the Progressive Socialist Party, led by MP Walid Jumblat, via Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour.
“We never suspended dialogue with them,” Geagea stated.
Concerning the fate of the Bkirki committee, formed under the auspices of Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to draft a law that guarantees the best representation for Christians, Geagea said that his party will attend any meeting that the patriarch calls for.
“The rest are free... We will not boycott it,” he added.
He stressed that all parties reject the adoption of a draft law based on the 1960 law, ruling out the postponement of the 2013 parliamentary elections.
“We have to reach an agreement,” Geagea said.
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