Jumblat Warns Lack of Consensus on Vote Law Would Destroy Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat warned on Monday that lack of consensus on an electoral draft-law would lead the country to destruction.
In remarks to As Safir newspaper, Jumblat said consensus is necessary more than any other time, adding time has not run out yet.
“Giving up to the impossibility of consensus means we are surrendering to the destruction of the country,” he warned.
The PSP chief, who is also the head of the National Struggle Front bloc, reiterated that the rival parties should work hard to end the current crisis on the electoral draft-law.
He said the best solution would be the adoption of a draft-law proposed by the government and backed by President Michel Suleiman by introducing some amendments to it.
Suleiman has on several occasions called for the adoption of the proposal, which divides Lebanon into 13 medium-sized districts based on a proportional representation system.
Jumblat, whose party is a strong critic of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, reiterated that the elections should be held on time.
“The extension of the parliament’s mandate is totally rejected,” he stressed.
In an interview with al-Jazeera TV network on Sunday, Jumblat expressed belief that Speaker Nabih Berri will not allow the adoption of the Orthodox proposal because essential Lebanese factions reject it.
“Berri is keen on accord in Lebanon,” he said.
The proposal, which divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, has been approved by the joint parliamentary committees, the last step before Berri calls for a legislative session to adopt it.
But the speaker has stressed that he was giving rival parties more time to reach consensus on another draft-law after the opposition al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front and the March 14 opposition's independent Christian MPs rejected it.
25 February 2013, 08:33
24
It is very obvious that the orthodox law returns the power to the Christians in their areas, I am for preventing the votes of the 3000+ Sunnis in koura from tipping the balance of power in the favor of the qouwat and kataeb, and I am for preventing the votes of the 5000+ Shiaa' in Baabda and Maten from tipping the balance of power in the favor of Aoun's party
But the Orthodox law has extreme side effects, especially on the individual level, to vote is to have a say in your country's decisions but under the orthodox law you have to be registered under a sect that has been acknowledged by your government, so if you believe that your religion is between you and God and you don't want your beliefs to be public knowledge, by not registering under a certain sect, then you have to give up on your right to vote???
25 February 2013, 09:55
04
Tell what is this logic that the Sunnis or the Shias are not allowed to tip off the balance in favor of the fl, kataeb or Aoun. They are Lebanese and are also allowed to vote for the mp's in their region. What is this logic that a Christian mp should be only voted by a Christian. This logic takes as to partitioning the country on religious basis when we should do the reverse.
25 February 2013, 10:32
02
I agree with you that in a perfect world religion would not interfere in such subjects, unfortunately right now for Lebanon to survive we need all the sects to have their proper political power and right now the Maronites are under the mercy of the Muslims, politically speaking, this is not acceptable and this is why the LF and kataeb agreed to the Orthodox law.
To be clear, I am against the orthodox law it is a law with too much "ba3es" but what I am saying is that I understand why the Christian political parties are for it
25 February 2013, 10:36
12
and the example about individual liberties is just one of them that many people can relate too
25 February 2013, 10:50
13
Dear FT
Though I find myself agreeing with many of your arguments and that it looks like you have good grammar and plenty of wisdom, I sometimes find it hard to take your comments seriously when I see vulgar vocabulary like "mustahbal", "Minions" and "Idiocy"... I am sorry about being blunt about this, I hate all the politicians and their parties just as much as the other guy, but showing some respect serves your argument much better than including such words, no matter how satisfactory it is to degrade those you hate.
Please let us be civilized to benefit each other!!!
sincerely
25 February 2013, 08:43
31
No. The presence of bung holes like Jumblat and Mafia Hariri, both collaborators with every enemy of Lebanon, is what is contributing to the destruction of Lebanon. The sooner they get flushed down the sewers the better. In the meantime, they are better off shutting up and getting off our backs with their ridiculous illogical and filthy blabber that no longer fool many.
25 February 2013, 09:27
43
Jumblat also rejected the 13 district proposal as well when it was first introduced ... Has he changed his tune?
Jumblat has been outplayed by Aoun. Jumblat has totally misread the public and now he grasps for straws.
25 February 2013, 11:10
12
lebanese have a strange notion of democracy... what if a christian is elected by a shia or a sunni? LOL it is just an MP elected by a citizen whatever his religion...
denying a citizen the right to vote for an MP in his region is just denying him his rights!!
but those sectarian minded people all claim to want secularism but a the very first occasion jump on sectarian laws...whatever they say to tell the contrary their acts shows how sectarian and hypocrit they are...
this country is paranoid and schizophrene....
25 February 2013, 13:37
32
No Joumblatt, it will destroy your parliamentary block. That's it. Not the country.
Everyone should know that whatever is bad for Joumblatt is good for Christians, and vice versa.
25 February 2013, 13:57
11
walid beik,everything u did was supposed to be for "istikrar", shou ada ma bada?
25 February 2013, 14:11
04
That tells you some people cannot cope with freedom. I totally agree with you. Lebanon had been nothing but chaotic since day 1.
