The failure of the lebanese politicians to agree on a new electoral law for parliamentary elections has prompted the Future Movement parliamentary bloc to make preparations to submit candidates for the upcoming elections based on the 1960 electoral law, according to a report by the An Nahar newspaper on Saturday.
According to An Nahar sources this is a preemptive move by the Future Movement to thwart rival candidates, who have already submitted their candidacies, from winning uncontested.
This development comes after Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that given that the political blocs have so far failed in reaching an agreement over a new electoral law, the one that was adopted during the previous elections, the 1960 law, would still be active and candidates would be eligible to submit their candidacies based on it.
He added that preparations to stage the elections, which are scheduled for June 16, are underway according to the previous law.
The the Future Movement sources reiterated to An Nahar the bloc’s rejection of the Orthodox Gathering and 1960 electoral law, but stressed that the move is aimed at averting uncontested victories, since several politicians have already submitted applications under the old law.
The Orthodox Gathering law which was pronounced dead last Wednesday was rejected by President Michel Suleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, the Future Movement, MP Walid Jumblat’s National Struggle Front, and independent Christian March 14 MPs.
Its death came about after the Lebanese Forces and the Future , backed by NSF agreed on a hybrid law that combines the winner takes all majoritarian system and proportional representation. This draf law was also rejected by the Hezbollah-led March 8 opposition.
The failure to reach an agreement over a new electoral law is threatening to postpone the elections and the extension of the term of the current parliament, a move that is opposed by the president and several politicians.
Update :The Lebanese Forces and PSP also decided to to submit applications for parliamentary candidatures based on the 1960 law, according to LF MP George Adwan, LBC reported
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