Gemayel Describes Jumblat as 'Key' to Deal on Vote Law

Phalange MP Sami Gemayel has described centrist Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat as the “key” to a deal among rival blocs on an electoral draft-law.

Gemayel told al-Liwaa daily in an interview published Tuesday that consultations on a vote law among the March 14 alliance leaders haven't stopped.

“The Phalange, the Lebanese Forces and al-Mustaqbal movement have reached an advanced stage on an electoral draft-law that guarantees the best representation (for all the Lebanese) and preserve its nationalistic aspect,” he said.

“But honestly the ball is now in the court of Walid Jumblat. He is the key to the majority,” the lawmaker said.

The solution comes when Jumblat “approves any of the five proposals made,” he added.

Gemayel hinted that the March 14 alliance has so far been unable to clinch a deal on a vote law over al-Mustaqbal bloc's insistence to garner the approval of Jumblat.

Gemayel also lambasted Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement for backing the Orthodox Gathering proposal not for the purpose of guaranteeing the best representation for Christians but for clinching a victory in the elections.

Hizbullah and the FPM are staunch supporters of the proposal that considers Lebanon a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

But the plan, which has also been approved by the Phalange at the joint parliamentary committees meeting, was criticized by al-Mustaqbal, the National Struggle Front and the March 14 alliance's Christian independent lawmakers.

Asked about the type of the new government after the resignation of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati last month, Gemayel said: “We believe that a neutral cabinet (as proposed by al-Mustaqbal) is incapable of taking decisions to lead the country at this difficult stage.”

“That's why we proposed a salvation government in which all officials and leaderships are represented,” he said.

Gemayel told al-Liwaa that it was necessary for March 14 alliance leaders to reach an agreement on the person they would nominate during the biding consultations set by President Michel Suleiman next Friday and Saturday.

“There is a big awareness by March 14 leaders on a united stance on the name of the PM-designate and the cabinet's form,” he said.

The Phalange lawmaker ruled out however the adoption of the “army, people and resistance” formula in the policy statement of the future cabinet as conditioned by Hizbullah.

The ministerial statement should be based on the Baabda Declaration instead, he said.