Deutsche Presse-Agentur
January 27, 2005, Thursday
19:59:04 Central European Time

Lebanese cabinet approves draft election law

Beirut

The Lebanese cabinet voted Thursday in favour of a new election law
drafted by pro-Syrian Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh which has
ignited wide criticism by opposition figures. Twenty-four ministers
voted in favour of the law, while six abstained – four of these loyal
to Shiite house speaker Nabih Berri, Information Minister Elie ferzli
said. The draft was referred to parliament for making it a law that
would regulate general elections slated for spring. The new bill is
based on the 1960 election law, with some modifications. These
include a proposal reducing the voting age level to 18 years, a
control on campaign spending and provisions for solitary ballots
guaranteeing voting privacy. The draft comprises 75 articles, key
among which are articles 2 and 3 specifying the number of
constituencies and the sectarian deputies in each. Beirut would have
three constituencies, the first with six deputies (four Moslem
Sunnis, one Christian Orthodox and one Druze), the second with nine
deputies (two Moslem Sunnis, two Moslem Shiites, three Orthodox
Armenians, one Evengelical and Catholic Armenian) and the third with
four (one Catholic, one Orthodox, one Maronite and one for
minorities). All in all, Lebanon will have a total of 26
constituencies. In initial reaction, former prime minister Rafik
Hariri threatened to resign from parliament along with his bloc if
the legislative body passed the draft into law, sources close to the
premier said. Hariri rejected especially vehemently the way the
Beirut cosntituencies were drawn up by Franjieh, a Christian
Maronite, one of Syria’s staunchest allies and a supporter of
Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud. Hariri charged the
constituencies have been tailored for political goals and could spark
sectarian sedition. Hariri’s parliamentary bloc, Beirut’s Choice,
includes 18 MPs. Hariri said earlier he would run for election in the
third constituency instead of the first if the draft remained as it
is. His aim would be to ensure balance between the constituencies.
Hariri’s ally Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said the upcoming
parliamentary elections were very important for the country’s future,
adding: “Our aim is to end the Syrian tutorship via democratic means
and turn the page of the war to no return.” Jumblatt, once a Syrian
ally, fell out with Damascus after it influenced the Lebanese
parliament to extend the term for Lahoud for another three years.
Since then, Jumblat has been leading a campaign calling for
implementing the Saudi-sponsored Taif accord, on the basis of calling
for the withdrawal of some 14,000 Syrian troops in the eastern Beka’a
region and ending the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence agencies’
meddling in Lebanese domestic affairs. Maronite cardinal Christian
Mar Nasrallah Butros Sfeir also criticized the draft, saying: “The
law should be fair to ensure an honest and fair elections and keep
away from any outside influence.” dpa wh sc