Mustaqbal Slams Sectarian Incitement, Urges Electoral Law that Boosts Unity

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for an electoral law that “strengthens national unity” and “respects Islamic-Christian coexistence.”

“The bloc reiterates its rejection of anything that might plunge Lebanon into a state of institutional vacuum,” it said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

“Accordingly, it stresses the importance of reaching a national formula for a new electoral law that would be based on Taef Accord's essential principles,” Mustaqbal added, emphasizing that the new law must “strengthen Lebanese national unity and respect Islamic-Christian coexistence.”

The bloc also called for avoiding “proposals and formats that take the country backwards, aggravate tensions and promote sectarian segregation,” voicing regret over “the tensions that some parties sought to stoke last week” prior to the legislative session that was eventually postponed.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed the session to May 15 after President Michel Aoun invoked his constitutional powers to suspend parliament for a month and prevent it from extending its own term for a third time in less than four years.