Jumblatt slams proposed electoral law as ‘ divisive and product of sick mentality’

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jumblatt cloonyProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt  slammed on Thursday the most recent  proposed electoral law as “divisive” and the product of a “sick mentality.”

“Forty-two years later, a sick mentality is bringing us an electoral law that separates and divides (the Lebanese) instead of uniting  them ,” Jumblat tweeted, marking the 42nd anniversary of the  start of the Lebanese civil war.

Earlier in the day, Jumblatt had told LBCI television that the “mere mention of sectarian voting stands for  termination of partnership.”

Jumblatt’s remarks come after  Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil’s announcement that the political parties have reached a “preliminary agreement” over a new electoral law.

The so called  ‘qualification law’   was proposed by Speaker Nabih Berri several months ago and is now being   endorsed by Bassil.

lebanese-elections-1960-law mapIn the first round, voting takes place in the current 26 districts ( as per the 1960 law)  and voters  can only vote for  the candidates of their own sect . Two candidates for each sectarian seat qualify for the second round during which voting would take place in 10 newly-defined electoral districts and according to a non-sectarian proportional representation polling system.

The 10 newly-defined electoral districts  are:  Akkar, North, Baalbek-Hermel, Zahle-West Bekaa, Northern Mount Lebanon (Jbeil, Keserwan, Metn, Baabda), Southern Mount Lebanon (Chouf and Aley), Beirut 1 (Ashrafieh, Rmeil, Medawwar, Marfa, Saifi, Bashoura), Beirut 2 (Ras Beirut, Dar el-Mreisseh, Mina el-Hosn, Zoqaq el-Blat, Mazraa, Mousaitbeh), South (Sidon, Tyre, Zahrani, Jezzine), and Nabatiyeh (Nabatiyeh, Bint Jbeil, Marjeyoun, Hasbaya).

Bassil said the main political parties have agreed to adopt the  ‘qualification law’ and are seeking its approval by everyone

The reported agreement was reached after extensive negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to al-Akhbar newspaper.

“The FPM and Prime Minister Saad Hariri will seek to secure the approval of the Lebanese Forces and the PSP,” al-Akhbar added.

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2 responses to “Jumblatt slams proposed electoral law as ‘ divisive and product of sick mentality’”

  1. Walid Beik…this time you nailed it !
    How can we call each other Lebanese and only be allowed to vote for people of our own sect only in the first round . It is like dividing Lebanon into 18 cantons .
    I think the best solution for Lebanon is to have a larger number of very small districts where only one parliament member should be elected and all the people of the district should vote for all the candidates ( from different sects) . The winner will represent the whole district and not only members of his or her own sect . A new non-sectarian Lebanon will emerge from such a system and the country will become the real democracy of the Middle East .

  2. MekensehParty Avatar
    MekensehParty

    What partnership is this moron talking about? There has been no partnership since Lebanon was drawn 97 years ago. The Maronites didn’t want partnership. The Sunnis after them didn’t want partnership and now the Shia categorically refuse partnership.
    Whatever Jumblat says is irrelevant anyway. He’ll change his mind at the first sight of the “black shirts”.

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