Debate has been raging in Lebanon inside the political arena and out, as several leading parties push for a change to the country’s electoral system.
A number of Lebanon’s major political parties have called for the introduction of a proportional representation voting system prior to upcoming parliamentary elections. The mandate of the Lebanese parliament, already extended in 2013 and 2014, expires in June.
Two Christian parties, the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces, have led the call for reform of the 1960 majoritarian electoral law.
While all of the Lebanese political parties have agreed on the need for new electoral legislation, so far they have been unable to reach consensus on the form it will take. Some have called for a “hybrid” system while others push for a fully proportional set-up.
The Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has provided the strongest opposition to a proportional law, expressing concern that the Druze community would not be sufficiently represented by such a system.
Several ministers have taken the campaign to Twitter, where they have extolled the virtues of the proposed proportional system.
Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil:
النسبية مدخلنا الأهم إلى المحاسبة ومكافحة الفساد المتلطي بالطائفية، ونقل العمل السياسي نحو البرامج وليس الانتماء الفئوي#النسبية_خلاص_لبنان
— Ali Hassan Khalil (@alihasankhalil) January 25, 2017
Proportional representation is our most important gateway to accountability and to combatting corruption obscured by sectarianism, and to move political action towards programs instead of sectarian belonging.
Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Inaya Ezzeddine:
#النسبية_خلاص_لبنان
— عناية عز الدين (@InayaEzzeddine) January 25, 2017
هي حق يؤمن لكل اللبنانيين المساهمة في تشكيل صورة الوطن
It is a right which guarantees to all the Lebanese people participation in forming the image of the nation.
Online, many ordinary Lebanese people from across their country's sectarian and political divides have expressed support for the change, using the hashtag “proportional representation will save Lebanon”.
#النسبيه_خلاص_لبنان وقضاءٌ علی العصبيات واتاحة مساحة لإسترداد الحقوق المسلوبة للكثيرين
— علي شعيب (@ASheib) January 25, 2017
#ProportionalRepresentationWillSaveLebanon and eliminate partisanship, providing space to recover the usurped rights of the majority.
Mhmd Hijazi, journalist at NBN news.
منخسر مقاعد بس منربح وطن #النسبيه_خلاص_لبنان
— mhmd hijazi (@mhmdhijazii) January 25, 2017
We will lose seats but we will profit a homeland
النسبية تجسد الواقع كما هو دون فلترة او زووم ان او زووم اوت #النسبية_خلاص_لبنان
— Rasha AL Zein (@rashazeinnbn) January 25, 2017
Proportional representation represents the reality as it is without filter or zoom or zoom out.
It is hoped that electoral reform would serve to better represent Lebanese voters in a system which is dominated by sectarian concerns. However, the head of the Kataeb party, Sami Gemayel, has warned that "time is running out.”
“We can’t delay the matter any further. On February 18, the electoral bodies will be called to prepare for the elections… we should adopt a new law ahead of that deadline.”
RA
