Khazen

 

BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman warned Friday against adopting “unconstitutional” electoral plans that deepen sectarian divisions in the country, in what appeared to be a veiled rejection of the Orthodox Gathering’s controversial proposal. Also Friday, Prime Minister Najib Mikati signaled that the government would have to call for the legislative elections, scheduled on June 9, to be held on the basis of the 1960 law if Parliament failed to reach an agreement on a new electoral law. Officials on both sides of the political divide, including the Maronite Church, have rejected the 1960 law, which adopts the qada as an electoral district and is based on a winner-takes-all system. The 1960 law was used in the 2009 parliamentary elections. [Link]