Miqati: Political Factions Leaning towards Adopting Proportionality for Electoral Law

Prime Minister Najib Miqati noted on Monday that he had not sensed any indication from any political power that they are not seeking to stage the parliamentary elections in June.

He said before a consular delegation: “Given the recent discussions, it appears that political powers are leaning towards adopting an electoral law based on proportional representation.”

“A new law will be approved if the discussions go as planned and if Speaker Nabih Berri's consultations are successful,” he remarked.

“I am optimistic over Lebanon's future despite the current deadlock,” continued the premier.

The government approved in August an electoral draft law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.

The suggestion was rejected by Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and the March 14 coalition, which deemed the law as being tailored to the March 8 camp's interests.

Recent parliamentary subcommittee meetings between the rival camps discussed a number of electoral laws, but failed to reach an agreement on one.

Miqati also held talks Sunday night with Berri to announced that ministers concerned with drafting a new law will attend the meeting of the joint parliamentary committees on Wednesday.

Addressing the case of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Miqati noted before the consular delegation: “Lebanon has always been influenced by Syria and it enjoys historic, geographic, and humanitarian ties with it and it is therefore normal that its crisis would affect Lebanon.”

“Given this reality, we took the decision to disassociate ourselves from the developments in Syria,” stressed Miqati.

“The Lebanese people are therefore required to be diligent and work on uniting their ranks,” he stated.

“We look forward to the Kuwait donor conference to obtain aid for the Syrian refugees, but it is also important to tackle the security, health, and social affect their presence is having on Lebanon,” he added.

The prime minister had also held separate talks on Monday with United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valeria Amos, European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst, and French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli.

The donor conference is scheduled to be held in Kuwait on Wednesday and attended by President Michel Suleiman.