Geagea: We Approved Orthodox Gathering Proposal for Sake of Agreeing on New Electoral Law
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea acknowledged that differences within the March 14 camp exist over the parliamentary electoral law, but added they are being resolved.
He said: “We supported the Orthodox Gathering proposal at the electoral subcommittee for the sake of reaching an agreement over an electoral law.”
An agreement over a new law can be reached in the upcoming days if political powers continue the serious efforts they have shown in the past few days, he remarked to al-Liwaa newspaper in an interview that will be published on Monday.
Moreover, Geagea said that the mere thought of delaying the elections, set for June 9, will be “fatal for out democratic system.”
“Postponing the elections for a month or two for technical reasons aimed at allowing the Interior Ministry to take the necessary preparations is the only acceptable excuse,” he said.
The rival parties are yet to agree on a draft law after the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal by the joint parliamentary committees, which drew a sharp debate among the opposition's faction and with rival coalitions.
The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
But the draft law has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, the centrist National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
Addressing other developments in Lebanon, Geagea told al-Liwaa: “A real state in Lebanon cannot be built amid Hizbullah's control of the country's strategic decision-making power.”
Furthermore, he criticized the party for acknowledging that it is taking part in the fighting in Syria.
He said: “No one can ignore Iran's role in Syria and the party should have stressed the need to maintain neutrality or support the people's revolt, but it unfortunately chose to take the opposite route.”
Hizbullah's position has sparked the outrage of the Syrian people, which may drag Lebanon towards the unknown, warned the LF leader.
A Hizbullah source had announced in February that some Lebanese people residing in Syria and who are members of the party are combating the “armed groups” involved in the fighting.
The members took it upon themselves to take part in the fighting without consulting the party, he revealed.
In October 2012, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had confirmed that some party members were indeed fighting in Syria.
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