By Paul Astih –

Beirut – Contrary to the status quo that prevailed in Lebanon by the
end of 2015, the situation today in the Mediterranean country looks
significantly more positive, especially following the election of a new
Lebanese president in October and the formation of a unity government
that has restored life to the different state institutions. Nonetheless, the new government, led by Prime Minister Saad
al-Hariri, has a major challenge, represented in the adoption of an
electoral law that would gain the approval of the different Lebanese
factions.

In this regard, sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that there has
been an overwhelming agreement over the need to put behind the 1960
electoral law, which was used in the last parliamentary elections in
2009. Based on the majority system, the electoral law, which was adopted in
1960, divides the country into 24 electoral districts. However,
Lebanese politicians are currently studying the adoption of a modern
electoral law that provides an appropriate representation of the
different Lebanese factions.

While Hezbollah and other political factions are insisting on a law
that would be solely based on the proportional system, other parties,
including the Future Movement, the Lebanese Forces and the Progressive
Socialist Party, back the adoption of a proportional system in some
regions and the majority system in others.

Former Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper
that he was not optimistic about the achievement of a significant
progress in this regard, adding that he believed that the different
political factions would only develop the 1960 law, by setting a 20
percent quota for women and activate election monitoring bodies. Also in remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, former Minister Karim
Pakradouni said that holding the parliamentary elections within the
constitutional deadline would be a great achievement. He added that he was confident that the Lebanese political parties
would agree on a law that would be solely based on the proportional
system.

From: al-monitor.com

Adopting the electoral law will be the biggest challenge to the
government as Aoun, Hezbollah, Amal and their allies are in favor of the
proportional system, while parliament member Walid Jumblatt, leader of
the Druze bloc, is absolutely against it. The Future Movement and the LF
also reject the law and either support the existing 1960 law, which is based on a majority system, or a mixed law that combines the majority and proportional systems.

The same source explained that should the 1960 majority law remain in
place, Hezbollah would not lose any seats in parliament. Yet, the
source added, the party wants the proportional system to be adopted to
ensure that all groups and currents are fairly represented and to secure
national fusion amid national, rather than sectarian, representation.

In this context, former Minister of State Karim Pakradouni told
Al-Monitor that Aoun supports the proportional system but will accept
another mixed or majority law that garners the support of all the other
blocs.

Political analyst Yasser al-Hariri told Al-Monitor no bloc
opposes the 1960 law, even if some blocs say they do. However, a new law
that is based on the majority and proportional systems could be agreed
upon provided it leads to the same results of the 1960 law.

Since Lebanon is a country of deals and national consensus, all
parties likely would agree on an electoral law that satisfies the major
sects and blocs, although Aoun, Hariri and Berri agree on adopting a new
reformist modern law.