26 August 2008

BEIRUT: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said on Monday that all Lebanese parties were committed to implementing what was agreed on in Doha last May regarding the drafting of a new electoral law for next year's parliamentary elections.

"All parties are committed to implementing the Doha Agreement in this regard, but it is left for Parliament to decide whether to adopt the law at once or do that in different stages," Siniora told reporters after meeting President Michel Sleiman at the presidential palace.

Parliament is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss drafting the new electoral law amid conflicting opinions on whether Parliament should adopt the law on Tuesday or wait for further reforms.

Rival Lebanese parties agreed in Doha last May to adopt an amended version of the qada-based 1960 electoral law for the 2009 elections, but a parliamentary committee is still studying the possibility of adding a number of reforms to the electoral law. Among such reforms are allowing Lebanese emigrants to vote and lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

The Administration and Justice Committee, which is in charge of studying the needed reforms, met on Monday and asked the Cabinet to provide the Interior Ministry with the necessary funds that would allow it to start its logistical preparations for next year's elections.

MP Robert Ghanem, who heads the committee, told reporters after the meeting that he was not in favor of adopting the new law without the reforms.

"The committee will be done studying the reforms in three weeks ... this way, Parliament will vote on the law and the reforms altogether instead of adopting the law first and postponing the reforms to a later stage," Ghanem said.

However MP Nawar al-Sahili, also a committee member, told reporters that he supported adopting the new law on Tuesday ahead of introducing the reforms at a later stage.

Meanwhile, a source close to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told The Daily Star on Monday that the scheduled debate on drafting the new electoral law in Tuesday's Parliament session was "pointless."

"We have a draft proposal by MP Amin Sherri; asking Parliament to adopt the new electoral law ... the speaker will simply present the proposal to vote and lawmakers will decide the fate of this proposal," the source said.

"If the majority of lawmakers decide to approve the proposal, Parliament will ratify the new electoral law ... otherwise, the entire issue will be postponed to another session."

"It makes no difference if Parliament adopts the law first and the reforms at a later stage or adopts both the law and the reforms in one session ... both scenarios will yield the same result," the source added.

Meanwhile, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun said Monday that Parliament must adopt the new electoral law in Tuesday's session. "The new electoral law should be adopted tomorrow ... [delaying] this should be out of question," he said after a meeting of his Reform at Change bloc at his residence in Rabieh.

"I don't understand why some are hesitant about adopting the new law, which was approved by 14 people in Doha," he added, referring to the Doha conference last May.

"The issue of introducing reforms should not be used as an excuse for not ratifying the law tomorrow," he added.

Responding to critics of his southern tour on Sunday, Aoun said that the criticism against him was driven by "jealousy."

"I advise the critics of my southern tour to go ahead and visit the South ... it would be a chance to see if they will be welcomed or not," he said, referring to rival March 14 politicians.

Regarding the appointment of a new army chief, Aoun said the issue should be left for the president to decide. "The president was a former army chief and he can deal with this issue."

The Cabinet is expected to deal with a number of security and administrative appointments in its next session, scheduled for Thursday.

Aoun said his bloc was willing to address the issue of deputy premier's privileges through a draft law that will be presented to Parliament. "Like any other institution, the Cabinet should have internal regulations that organize its functioning," he said.

"The post of deputy premier is not recognized by the Constitution, but yet it remains to be a customary post ... this has been the case for years," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra, a comrade of Aoun, was quoted as saying earlier that he may erect a tent in front of the Grand Serail to protest Siniora's denying him an office inside the government headquarters.

Last week, Aoun demanded that the deputy premier be given more constitutional privileges. The remarks sparked a debate between rival MPs.

Meanwhile, Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh accused the March 14 alliance on Monday of not wanting to adopt the new electoral law. "It seems that the new law does not suit some politicians within the March 14 camp," he said.

"Even some reforms, such as lowering the voting age to 18, are not in their advantage," he said.

Meanwhile, Future Movement MPs Ammar Houri and Ahmad Fatfat said on Monday that the parliamentary majority was not willing to adopt the new law without the reforms.

Army restores calm after beirut clashes

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army took control of Mohammad al-Hout Street in the Ras al-Nabah neighborhood late Monday after a clash erupted in the area. Local media reported that the clashes erupted between supporters of the rival Amal and Future Movement over Amal's erection of posters in the neighborhood. - The Daily Star

© Copyright The Daily Star 2008.

 

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