Report: Berri Says Politicians Face One of Two, New Electoral Law or the 1960

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Thursday that the “ball is now in the court of the politicians” and they can either agree on a new electoral law or settle for the 2008 one, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

Visitors to Berri quoted him as saying that agreeing on a new electoral law has become inevitable and he said: “It is crucial that the political powers heed Lebanon's interest in agreeing on an electoral law that satisfies and represents all parties. They have no excuse to keep the country disabled.”

“The ball is now in the court of the politicians, who are making a big mistake by keeping the situation as it is right now,” added Berri.

The speaker pointed out that he adheres to holding the parliamentary elections based on the proportionality electoral law.

Pointing to the short time left before the parliament's term ends, Berri told al-Akhbar daily: “The parliament still has around four or five months before it agrees on a new law.”

Should the political powers fail to agree on one, then the 1960 law would be used. This law was adopted in the 2009 elections and is based on a winner-takes-all system.

Lebanon's parliament has extended its term twice, once in 2013 and another in 2014, due to officials' failure to agree on a new electoral law.

Its term ends in June 2017.

D.A.

M.T.