Charbel Reveals Polls to be Held on June 9 Based on 1960 Law if No Consensus Reached

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed on Tuesday that the parliamentary elections will be held on June 9, stressing that his ministry will adopt the 1960 law that is based on a winner-takes-all system if the rival parties failed to reach an agreement on a new electoral law.

“I am responsible for holding the elections. I have no other alternative,” Charbel said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

He pointed out that the tenure of the current parliament ends in June 20.

He criticized the parliament, accusing it of “wasting time.

“Every team wants to press forward its proposal... The parliament should have discussed instead the electoral draft law proposed by the cabinet, modify it or reject it,” Charbel pointed out.

He lashed out at the parliament, demanding it to take a stance and adopt a new electoral law.

“The Interior Minister will not obstruct the polls... It's carrying out preparations for the elections,” Charbel noted.

However, the minister reiterated that the adoption of an electoral law based on proportional representation is “more adequate and fair,” but he has no other solution.

An official source told As Safir newspaper that the parliament might adopt a draft law that combines the proportional representation and winner-takes-all systems as a settlement to the sharp differences among Lebanese political foes over the matter.

The proposal is based on a proposal by the Butros Committee in 2005, which was headed by former Foreign Minister Fouad Butros.

It suggests electing 71 parliamentary seats based on proportional representation while the remaining 57 seats would be elected based on a winner-takes-all system, where each province would be adopted as an electoral district.

The committee proposed additional electoral improvements such as the formation of an independent committee to administer elections and the use of pre-printed ballots.

Parliamentary committees have been meeting regularly to discuss the new electoral law without reaching an accord.

The cabinet pushed in August for a law based on proportional representation and dividing Lebanon into 13 electoral districts. Meanwhile, March 14 coalition's proposal suggested dividing Lebanon into 50 electoral districts and adopting popular majority, explaining that this would give a just representation for Lebanese Christians.

While a plan suggested by Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc allows every sect to elect its own MPs under a proportional representation system with Lebanon as a single district.