Rahi Calls from Venezuela for a Vote Law that 'Meets Lebanese People's Aspirations'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged lawmakers to agree on an electoral law that meets the aspirations of the Lebanese people, the state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

"MPs must reach an accord over a vote law that meets the aspirations of Lebanese people inside the country and around the world,” al-Rahi said after meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Tuesday eve.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed Wednesday's parliamentary session to Friday for lack of quorum after the majority of March 14 alliance MPs and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front reached a deal on the hybrid law.

The lawmakers were set to vote on the Orthodox gathering's draft electoral law during Wednesday's session.

However, during a press conference that several of March 14's MPs held in parliament, Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan said: “We reached a deal on the hybrid law that Berri had previously proposed.”

Berri invited a parliamentary electoral subcommittee to hold consecutive meetings until 6:00 pm Friday under his chairmanship.

Al-Rahi pointed out that the Venezuelan head of state gives a special attention to the Middle East, and relies on Lebanon's role in this respect.

Meanwhile, Maduro said after the talks: “We discussed peace and the importance of healing wounds to defend peace."

He stated: "Peace, sovereignty, independence and self-determination are the Syrian people's rights.”

"All foreign interference in Syria must stop, as well as acts of terrorism and divisions inside the country.”