MP Hamadeh: dominance of Hezbollah arms violates election laws

March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh said in remarks published on Sunday by An-Nahar newspaper that the inability of Lebanese expatriates to vote and the “dominance of arms” both violate the principle of free elections. a possible reference to Hezbollah arms

“The inability of non-resident Lebanese to vote and the dominance of arms are two matters that harm every election under any law, whether we stick with simple majority or or switch to proportional representation,” he said

“If these two matters were not resolved solved then it would be a violation of the principles of any election that takes place in any country,” Hamadeh added.

Lebanese political parties are debating a new electoral law for the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections. Some political parties such as the PSP has opposed the proposed law which is based on proportional representation and is insisting on keeping the 2009 electoral law, which is based on simple majority representation, some Christian parties are concerned that Shiites and Sunnis are electing their Christian representatives and therefore want each sect to elect its own representatives