Berri Criticizes Suleiman, Miqati over Electoral Decree: No Parliamentary Session before Agreement
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri criticized on Tuesday President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati after inking an electoral decree the day before, pointing out that he will not call for a parliamentary session if no consensus over the electoral law was reached.
Berri wondered how some officials declare that they oppose the 1960 law, which is based on yjr winner-takes-all system, then work according to it, hinting at Suleiman and Miqati.
On Monday, Suleiman and Miqati signed a decree that calls for parliamentary elections on June 9 based on the 1960 law.
“If I were Suleiman and Miqati I would've defended the cabinet's electoral proposal instead of neglecting it,” he said in comments to local newspapers.
The cabinet proposed in August an electoral draft-law based on proportional representation that divides the country to 13 districts.
The speaker slammed the 1960 law, describing it as “dead.”
“All the timeframes set by this law have no importance or value, and I am not concerned with them,” Berri pointed out.
He noted that if the rival parties fail to agree on a new electoral law then he will not call for a parliamentary session.
“I will not allow for anyone to decide what my role is,” Berri stated.
He said that he will swiftly call for a parliamentary session if the foes reach common ground over the matter.
“If I didn't swiftly call for a parliamentary session once they agree, then they should hold me accountable,” Berri added.
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 factions 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.
05 March 2013, 09:42
34
Enough posturing Mr. Speaker, the President & PM did exactly what they are expected to do constitutionally. It is high time our Lebanese "leaders" learned to respect deadlines and the principles of democratic governance lest we remain a banana republic in the eyes of the civilized world.
We Lebanese need to internalize once and for all that laws and rules re there for the benefit of all and they are not to be bent or broken according to the will of the politicians or those with weapons threading the rest of us.
Kudos to our President and Prime Minsiter.
05 March 2013, 10:14
42
christian rights are sacred ,
this is the main issue and no elections without this right
god bless lebanon
05 March 2013, 11:12
31
@al-kafi... go give out some milk and blankets ...instead of u sitting here ...maybe they will do u good loooooooooooooooooooool
05 March 2013, 17:06
00
Abu steif
your right my fault may be in expressing my point
the rights of all lebaneses are sacred
god bless united and fair lebanon
btw i mentionned christian rights cause as we are equal and all the rights of others is 100 % this is what im asking for my 100% rights like others so i can be equal
god bless lebanon
