Lebanon to hold four-phase polls from May 29

Reuters 
 
Beirut: Lebanon’s president approved yesterday a government decision to hold general elections in four rounds between May 29 and June 19 under a controversial electoral law, officials said.

They said President Emile Lahoud issued a decree confirming the dates already agreed by the government last week.

Lebanese officials have been under international pressure to hold the elections on time despite a political crisis sparked by the February 14 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

The term of the current assembly ends on May 13.

Lahoud urged parliament on Wednesday to change the law organising the elections which is widely seen to favour Syria’s allies to the ire of the Christian opposition.

The 2000 elections were held under the tutelage of Damascus which ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon last week.

Lahoud, in a letter to parliament, said the 2000 law, which split Lebanon into constituencies in a way seen to favour Damascus’s allies, was causing “sharp political dispute” that could lead to unbalanced representation.

He said the election should be held “on time under a law that secures the best expression of the will of the people”.

Lahoud is a longtime Syrian ally, but he appears to be seeking favour among his own Maronite Christian community which largely opposes the 2000 law.

He appeared to be asking parliament to swiftly pass a Bill drafted months ago that would create small constituencies as advocated by many Christian politicians.

But parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a key Shiite Muslim official, had not called for a parliament session before a constitutional deadline of midnight last night for the election decree to be issued, leaving Lahoud with little choice but to agree or postpone the poll.

Political sources said Berri was likely to call on parliament to meet tomorrow.

The first round of elections will be held in Beirut on May 29. The last round covers northern Lebanon on June 19.