A cabinet session headed by President Michel Sleiman took place on Wednesday night during which the attendees discussed a draft electoral law based on proportional representation, in addition to other issues.
Acting Information Minister Wael Abu Faour told reporters that Sleiman commenced the session by reviewing his recent meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who arrived in Beirut on Sunday for a two-day visit.
According to Faour, Sleiman said the meeting with Kirill “was an opportunity to stress that the [developments] in neighboring communities need to be based on respecting diversity, and Lebanon’s experience [is an example on how] all factions [can] take part in reaching a national decision.”
Sleiman also called on Lebanese parties to refrain from adopting “heated or radical” political speeches, which are likely to lead to “tensions” on the Lebanese political landscape.
Faour told reporters that after Sleiman’s remarks, the ministers started discussing a draft electoral law which had been proposed by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
Faour said that Charbel continued discussing his proposal and explained the term of “proportional representation” and whether such a system of representation would stir reforms.
The cabinet also discussed other subjects related to elections such as women’s quota, and Charbel took them into consideration, according to Faour.
Lebanese parties are presently 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.
Asked by reporters about the attack that targeted the Greek Orthodox Church for the Archdiocese of Beirut on Tuesday night and the blasts that took place on Wednesday in Tyre, Faour said: “ This issue is being followed up by the president and prime minister.”
However, Faour added: “There is information that what happened at the church [was only a crime and was not motivated by politics] and the same thing goes for what happened in Tyre.”
Unidentified attackers broke into the Greek Orthodox Church for the Archdiocese of Beirut on Tuesday night. According to NNA , the perpetrators stole items that belonged to the church after destroying its doors.
Later on Wednesday morning two bombs targeting a nightclub and a liquor store exploded in Tyre, one of the few areas of the conservative South where alcohol is available. There were no casualties in the 5:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) blasts, but they caused severe damage to property, a security official told AFP.
Regarding Lebanon’s stance over Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria, Faour said: “Lebanon’s position at the Arab League was discussed at the cabinet session on Tuesday and there was no need to discuss it again.”
Faour told reporters on behalf of the cabinet that a “sensible Lebanese decision” implies that “Lebanon needs to refrain from anything that might cause schism among Lebanese and Arabs.”
The Arab League on Saturday suspended Syria’s membership in the organization until President Bashar al-Assad implements an Arab deal to end violence against protesters, and called for sanctions and transition talks with the opposition.
Lebanon, Syria and Yemen voted against the resolution while Iraq abstained.
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