Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra said in an interview published on Thursday that Hezbollah’s insistence for Lebanon not to provide its share of funding to the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will result in the cabinet’s collapse.
“[The LF] adhered to the STL because it will achieve justice concerning the [2005] assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the crimes that followed it,” Zahra told Michigan-based Voice of Freedom newspaper.
The Hezbollah-led March 8 parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet – have opposed a clause in the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the funding of the tribunal, while Prime Minister Najib Mikati has repeatedly voiced his support for funding the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the assassination of Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
The LF MP also said that the Orthodox committees proposal for the 2013 parliamentary electoral law is “negotiable.”He added that his party is calling for expatriates to be given the right to vote from their countries of residence.“This is their constitutional right and is not a favor from any [party].”Lebanese parties are debating the electoral law for the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections. After the parliament agreed on drafting a law based on proportional representation, some parties rejected the proposed law and called for adopting the 2009 electoral law, which is based on simple majority representation.The draft electoral law proposed by the Orthodox committee states that Lebanese citizens should vote for candidates from their own sect under a system based on proportional representation.Zahra also said that his party never opposed Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai or his stances.The Patriarch has faced criticism by some figures of March 14 coalition after his recent statements in France supporting the Syrian regime and Hezbollah’s arms. -NOW Lebanon
The LF MP also said that the Orthodox committees proposal for the 2013 parliamentary electoral law is “negotiable.”He added that his party is calling for expatriates to be given the right to vote from their countries of residence.“This is their constitutional right and is not a favor from any [party].”Lebanese parties are debating the electoral law for the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections. After the parliament agreed on drafting a law based on proportional representation, some parties rejected the proposed law and called for adopting the 2009 electoral law, which is based on simple majority representation.The draft electoral law proposed by the Orthodox committee states that Lebanese citizens should vote for candidates from their own sect under a system based on proportional representation.Zahra also said that his party never opposed Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai or his stances.The Patriarch has faced criticism by some figures of March 14 coalition after his recent statements in France supporting the Syrian regime and Hezbollah’s arms. -NOW Lebanon
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