Bkirki Rejects electoral draft law as approved by the cabinet

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The Maronite church rejects the new proportional representation draft law as approved by the cabinet earlier this month, Bkirki spokesman Walid Ghayyad revealed on Tuesday.

“Bkirki rejects the draft law that divided the country into 13 districts because all the Lebanese failed to agree on it,” Ghayyad told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

Ghayyad pointed out that Bkirki aims at reaching an electoral law that fairly represents all the Lebanese.

“The Bkirki committee will continue to exert efforts to find the appropriate proposal which would be applicable” and approved by all parties, Ghayyad added.

The committee which is made up of the four major Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange and Marada movement – was formed under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to draft a law that guarantees the best representation for Christians, has failed to agree on an appropriate proposal.

Lebanon’s Cabinet approved earlier in August an electoral draft law that called for proportional representation and divided the country into 13 districts.

Lebanon was divided into the following electoral districts:

Beirut 2, south Lebanon 2, Bekaa 3, north Lebanon 3 , Mount Lebanon 3.

The new electoral law was approved by the majority of ministers. The ministers that represent Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s bloc voted against it.

While Hezbollah and its March 8 allies welcomed the the new electoral draft law Former Lebanese PM and current Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri rejected it and said it will not pass in parliament.

March 14 MP Ammar Houry told Voice of Lebanon as soon as the draft law was approved : “The draft electoral law as approved by the cabinet is the law of sedition…. a preparation for a civil war…it is the draft law of Jalili and its representative “Hezbollah”.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said during a press conference in early August that the new electoral law favors March 8 alliance and called for smaller electoral districts to ensure proper representation during the 2013 parliamentary election.

Phalange Party’s Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel, told MTV early August that he rejects the draft electoral law adopted by the cabinet, stressing that it was tailored to serve the electoral interests of the ruling Hezbollah led March 8 coalition and predicting that “it will be defeated in parliament.”

Observers say that there is no way the new law will pass because March 14 will be the new majority in parliament .

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