MP Hani Qobeisi
The Daily Star – BEIRUT:
Amal Movement officials Sunday anticipated an extension of the current
parliamentary term and echoed previous stances in favor of a
proportional voting system, the National News Agency said – “A
technical extension (of parliamentary terms) is possible,” MP Anwar
Khalil was quoted by the NNA as saying during a visit to the south
Lebanon border town of Deir Mimas. Parliamentary elections were postponed twice in 2013 and 2014 over security concerns. The coming June 2017 elections might be further delayed for technical reasons.
“The
elections are due in June. However, there are two factors that might
delay it. The month of Ramadan and the final days of the school year
coincide with the elections” Khalil said. Teachers who will be deployed at the voting centers can only perform this task after the school year ends, Khalil added. He
said that a proportional electoral law reflects the will of the voters.
However, he did not rule out reaching an agreement on a hybrid law. “Fair
representation is achieved through proportionality with extensive
electoral constituencies,” Amal MP Hani Qobeisi was quoted by the NNA as
saying during a south Lebanon memorial service.
Amal officials
who joined Hezbollah and Free Patriotic Movement in lobbying for a
proportional law have proposed a hybrid formula that would blend both
majority and proportional voting systems.
The Future movement, Lebanese Forces and Progressive Socialist Party have also proposed a hybrid law.
FPM
MP Ibrahim Kanaan said Sunday during an interview with Radio VDL 93.3
that his party would meet with parliamentary blocs to reach common
ground on the expected electoral law.
Lebanese parties are divided
between adopting a proportional vote law or a hybrid electoral law, but
they are expected to reach a settlement which includes aspects of the
proportional and current winner-takes-all systems.
