Pharaon Meets Geagea: Berri Withdrew his Proposed Draft Law to Postpone Elections
March 14 opposition MP Michel Pharaon lamented on Thursday the poor political situation in Lebanon, noting that it could have been avoided had treaties and agreements, such as the Taef accord, been implemented.
He questioned after holding talks with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea Speaker Nabih Berri's decision to withdraw his hybrid electoral draft law from discussions, saying that it is aimed at postponing the parliamentary elections.
The speaker had threatened on Wednesday to withdraw his suggestion from political discussions due to the attack it came under by the March 8 and 14 camps.
The solution to the current political deadlock lies in respecting the concerns of Christians and implementing the Baabda Declaration that calls for keeping Lebanon away from regional disputes, continued Pharaon.
“There is still hope that an agreement may be reached over an electoral law within the next two weeks, but we unfortunately are hearing proposals that may thwart this mission,” he added.
The elections need to be held on time, he stressed.
“Some solutions are available even if the Orthodox Gathering proposal has been abandoned,” he remarked.
“Christian concerns are national ones. Several crises, not just the one over the electoral law, are plaguing Lebanon and they are all connected to each other,” he said.
The Orthodox Gathering proposal was approved at the joint parliamentary committees last week amid the rejection of the Mustaqbal bloc, National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and independent Christian March 14 MPs.
It remains to be seen if Berri will refer the law to parliament for a vote.
The ongoing dispute over the electoral law is threatening to postpone the elections that are scheduled for June 9.
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