The Free Patriotic Movement Minister Gebran Bassil proposed on Monday, at a press conference the adoption of a new parliamentary electoral system: “What we are introducing today is the beginning of the adoption of the Senate; its president is Christian but not Maronite to respect parity.”
Minister Gebran Bassil stressed that “it is impossible to implement any political reform in Lebanon without adopting a new electoral law that respects the parity and the health of representation, and that the survival of all Lebanese factions is the survival of the nation.” Minister Bassil added, “This law is not for Gebran Bassil but for everyone.”
In addition, Bassil said, “this proposed bill was prepared by several Lebanese contacts, and divides the parliamentary seats according to the proportionality and majority systems,” and added, “no reform can be done without a new electoral law, and the suggested one is for all the people and it respects the equal sharing of power.”
Bassil detailed his electoral law saying that it sets the voting according to the majority of votes based on 14 mixed districts, adding that each sect will elect its deputies.
Minister Bassil explained, “Such law combines between proportional representation in Lebanon’s five traditional governorates and majority voting in 14 electoral constituencies where voters may only cast ballots for candidates of the same religion. Proportionality will be adopted in the five main districts.”
Bassil concluded by saying, “several political parties gave a positive feedback regarding the new law, while others are still studying it. We hope to get everyone’s approval, but if they do not, then the hybrid electoral system is still a choice.”
Translated by Hala Hayek
