The Daily Star - Charbel: Some political parties reject proportional representation - September 14, 2011

BEIRUT: Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Tuesday that some political factions reject the adoption of a proportional representation system for the parliamentary elections of 2013 because it does not suit their interests.
“Political factions are split over the adoption of proportional representation in parliamentary elections,” he said. “Those who reject it make other proposals which suit their calculations and interests, while those supporting it have different views.”
Charbel made his remarks at the Interior Ministry while chairing a meeting of the committee drafting the new electoral law that was also attended by representatives of civil and women associations along with universities. The meeting was described as a way for these representatives to present their opinions on a proportional representation system and districting.
Charbel hosted a similar meeting Monday that was attended by representatives of political parties.
Topics discussed included a committee to supervise the elections, a quota for female representatives, strict control of campaign spending, pre-printed ballots, electoral media campaigns and advertising, and proportional representation.
Among the attendees were representatives from the Lebanese Council for Women, which includes 170 associations throughout Lebanon, officials from the U.N. Development Program, the Lebanese Transparency Association and other associations.