Berri Denies Giving Deadline for Consensus on Vote Law

Speaker Nabih Berri denied on Friday that he gave rival lawmakers a one-week deadline to reach consensus on an electoral draft-law before putting the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal to vote in parliament.

In remarks to An Nahar newspaper, Berri said: “I haven't spoken about it and I have neither set a week, nor two weeks nor 70 days for the General Assembly” session.

The door “is still open for the required consultations to reach consensus on new electoral draft-law,” he said.

The speaker has been holding intense consultations with party leaders and lawmakers to pave way for an agreement among rival lawmakers on a draft-law that appeases all sides.

The Orthodox Gathering proposal was on Tuesday approved by the joint parliamentary committees despite the rejection of al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat and March 14 opposition's independent Christian MPs.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati has also criticized it and President Michel Suleiman has said he would challenge the plan before the Constitutional Council if it was approved by parliament.

The proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

Berri met on Thursday night with National Struggle Front MP Nehmeh Tohmeh.

The speaker had also held talks on Wednesday with Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun, who is the head of the Change and Reform bloc that is a staunch supporter of the Orthodox proposal.

The meeting comes as part of attempts to reach consensus, Berri told An Nahar.