Saniora to Meet Berri in Light of Consultations on Electoral Law

Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc ex-PM Fouad Saniora is expected to hold talks on Wednesday with Speaker Nabih Berri as part of consultations among foes over the new electoral law, An Nahar newspaper reported.

According to the daily, Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat and ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's adviser Mohammed Shatah, who are tasked by the bloc to tackle the electoral law with the rival parties, will also hold talks with the speaker.

For his part, Berri told As Safir newspaper that the meetings he is holding with March 8 and 14 officials aim at “easing tension.”

The speaker held talks on Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement caretaker Minister Jebran Bassil, Hizbullah leader's aide Hussein Khalil and former minister Youssef Saad held discussions with the speaker in presence of his assistant Ali Hassan Khalil in Ain el-Tineh.

Berri also held separate meetings with Phalange party MP Sami Gemayel and Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan.

A consensus over an electoral law has yet to be reached after the Orthodox Gathering's proposal that considers Lebanon a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, was opposed by President Michel Suleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, al-Mustaqbal bloc, the PSP, and the independent Christian MPs of the March 14 opposition, saying it harms the social fabric and increases sectarian tension.

Saniora said in comments published in As Safir newspaper that the bloc is mulling its participation in a parliamentary session that Berri is seeking to hold during the first week of April.

“Our stance from the session will be decided when the agenda is prepared,” he addedd.

Asked if al-Mustaqbal would attend any national dialogue session under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman, Saniora expressed fear that the rival parties would need to hold dialogue sessions whenever a civil servant should be appointed in state posts.

The March 14 opposition had boycotted in October all political activity with the cabinet of Miqati after it blamed his government for the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch chief Wissam al-Hasan, demanding its resignation.

The last dialogue session was held last year.