WED 24 - 4 - 2024
 
Date: Jun 5, 2017
Source: The Daily Star
Lebanon activists describe vote law agreement as 'distortion of proportionality'
BEIRUT: Lebanese activists Sunday rallied in Beirut against the "distortion of proportionality," days after rivals agreed on a proportional vote law with 15 constituencies.

Around 20 activists, affiliated to "The Choice of Citizenship," protested in Beirut’s Sodeco Square a few hundred meters from Downtown Beirut.

The demonstrators called for holding the elections promptly within less than three months.

Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk had said on Friday that preparations to conduct the parliamentary polls based on proportional representation would take 6 to 7 months.

"The advantages of proportional system is to achieve justice and accurate representation, in addition to paving way for citizens to reach decision-making posts," Wassef Harakeh said on behalf of protesters.

He denounced the clash among politicians on parliamentary seats.

"The system that they are talking about takes us back to square one," Harakeh said, rejecting the distribution of electoral constituencies on sectarian basis.

They also urged for electoral reforms.

Leaders agreed Thursday on the essential elements of a new electoral law, including the adoption of a proportional voting system, prompting President Michel Aoun to sign a decree allowing Parliament to convene for an extraordinary session to vote on the law later this month.

Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri all indicated that talks have been positive, as they expect a new electoral law to be announced within days.

Hariri confirmed that an electoral law adopting a proportional system across 15 districts would be applied, adding that the final touches will be in place before the conclusion of Parliament’s mandate on June 20.

"We acknowledge that these political powers feed on sectarian rhetoric, which aims at inciting sedition and people's fears," Harakeh added.

“Take lessons from the Barakat building that stands as a witness to the Civil War as a result of the of your renewed dividing sectarian choices,” he added.

Barakat Building is a half-torn building during the 1975-1990 Civil War.

It is located on the Sodeco intersection on what was once the green line between the eastern and western sides of Beirut divided during the war.

It was recently renovated and reopened as a modern museum of the Civil War. The marks of war can still be seen on the building.

Parliamentary elections were originally scheduled to take place between May 21 and June 21, yet political deadlock is expected to delay elections beyond June.

The last parliamentary elections in Lebanon were held in 2009. Parliament’s term was extended twice in 2013 and 2014.



 
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