Christian opposition to run in elections despite ‘unfair law’
By Majdoline Hatoum
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Christian opposition said it will contest the country’s elections despite their insistence that the election process discriminates against Christians. 
The opposition finally quelled speculation that it would boycott this month’s polls following a meeting of its Qornet Shehwan Gathering under the aegis of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir.
Sfeir is one of the most vocal critics of the country’s election law, which was devised in 2000 when Syrian hegemony was at its most pervasive in Lebanon.
Following the meeting, opposition MP Butros Harb said: “We will deal with the 2000 electoral law as a status-quo, which we refuse, but will go through elections according to the law in order to protect people’s rights.”
Harb added international insistence to hold elections on time, most notably from the U.S. and France, did not leave room for the opposition to change the electoral law.
Yesterday’s Qornet Shehwan meeting was held against the backdrop of speculation that the group had become divided over whether they should participate in the elections.
Some Christian politicians within the group had already sealed electoral alliances despite opposition from Sfeir and others who were hoping a refusal to participate would force a change in the election law.
But Sfeir denied there was any conflict within the gathering.
The patriarch said: “It is all rumors being circulated in the media to break up the unity of the opposition.”
Sfeir added: “I am sure that the Lebanese will unite despite the electoral process, which might politically separate them briefly.”
In a further show of unity, the meeting also witnessed the participation of Strida Geagea, wife of jailed Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who was attending a Qornet Shehwan for the first time.
Harb also insisted the entire cross-sectarian opposition grouping, including Walid Jumblatt’s Druze party and Saad Hariri’s Future Movement and other factions remained united.
Harb said the entire opposition was still open to holding an alliance with former Army General Michel Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement.
Aoun, who recently returned from 15 years in exile in France, has accused opposition factions of “ganging up against him.”
Aoun publicly slammed leading opposition figures Hariri and Jumblatt saying they were “no better than Rustom Ghazaleh,” Syria’s former intelligence commander in Lebanon.
Speaking during an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation last night, Aoun insisted he was not about to ally himself with anyone currently. He said: “I am waiting until everyone holds their electoral alliances, and then I will see what I will do.”
Aoun also met with Beirut MP Ghattas Khoury, who is a member of Hariri’s parliamentary bloc. No statements were made following the meeting, but the during his TV interview
Aoun said “that doors were not completely shut” between him on one side, and Hariri and Jumblatt on the other side.
Aoun’s interview followed an earlier meeting with former minister and pro-Syrian loyalist Suleiman Franjieh which fueled speculation that the two will form an electoral alliance.
Speculation is also rife that Hariri intends to pay a visit to Aoun in a bid to mend bridges.
Meanwhile Aoun is expected to visit Geagea at his prison cell in the Defense Ministry later today.
In other developments, Hariri met with British Ambassador James Watt and discussed Lebanese internal issues. Speaking to his supporters later, Hariri said he would stand firm on the electoral alliances he has made.
He said: “We held our alliances for the sake of Lebanese unity. The Lebanese Forces, Qornet Shehwan Gathering and all other opposition factions stood by our side on March 14th, and now we are proving that our national unity, which manifested that day, is still strong.”
