ASIA/LEBANON - The Free Patriotic Movement leader: an electoral law to get out of political confessionalism is needed

Tuesday, 28 March 2017 elections   oriental churches   international politics   politics  

arabpress.eu

Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - The ongoing discussion between the Lebanese political forces to establish the electoral law with which to celebrate the upcoming parliamentary election is an opportunity to lead the Country out of political confessionalism and work toward the establishment of a full secularism. This is what was said by Gebran Bassil, Lebanon's current Foreign Minister and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, the Maronite political party founded by President Michel Aoun. On Monday, March 27, speaking at an official dinner of the Maronite League, the Lebanese political leader - who is also Aoun’s son-in-law - called for the adoption of an electoral law which takes account of the actual composition of the Country, and promotes its progressive enfranchisement from sectarian impulses that continue to threaten the life of society, progressing firmly towards "secularism to which we aspire". The new law - stressed the Foreign Minister of Lebanon - will have to necessarily be representative of each component of Lebanese society, without force and interference.
The electoral system currently in force, states that half of the 128 Members of Parliament have to be Christians (mostly Maronites), and the other half composed of Muslim parliamentarians and Druze. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 28/03/2017)


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