Miqati Says No Option but to Extend Parliament's Term or Deal with Political Vacuum
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed regret on Monday on the sharp rift between Lebanese foes over the new electoral law, pointing out that there are only two options either political vacuum or extending the mandate of the parliament.
“Officials didn't act responsibly,” Miqati said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.
He noted that the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal and the 1960 electoral law are both not applicable, saying that extending the term of the parliament became mandatory as it remains better than falling into constitutional vacuum.
“Extending the mandate of the parliament would pave way to exert efforts to reach consensus on a reform electoral law that best represents the Lebanese and has the agreement of the rival parties,” Miqati said.
An amended version of the 1960 law was adopted in the 2009 parliamentary elections, but the majority of the political blocs are refusing to adopt it for this year's polls.
The Orthodox Gathering law has meanwhile been rejected by President Michel Suleiman, Miqati, the Mustaqbal bloc, MP Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front, and independent Christian March 14 MPs, however it was strongly backed by Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
The caretaker PM called on officials to be honest with the Lebanese and admit that they “failed in assuming their national responsibility.”
Asked if he will submit his candidacy to the polls based on the 1960 law, Miqati said that he rejects the Orthodox proposal, which is based on proportional representation, and the 1960 law based on winner-takes-all system.
“I have to be honest with myself and commit to my convictions,” he added.
Miqati also noted that his cabinet can't hold on the polls based on the 1960 law as the authority tasked with overseeing the elections was not establishment, which clearly violates the law.
The cabinet-led by Miqati resigned on March 22 after it failed to approve the formation of the authority to oversee the elections.
The parliament's electoral subcommittee has been holding consecutive meetings since last week under the auspices of Speaker Nabih Berri in an attempt to reach consensus over an electoral law.
But the rival lawmakers failed on Saturday to reach consensus on a new law, suggesting the extension of the legislature’s mandate.
Berri gave the MPs until Monday to bring their responses on the timeframe of the extension of parliament's mandate.
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