Berri: No Elections Based on 1960’s Law

Local Editor

Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri stressed Monday that "no elections will be held under the 1960's electoral."

In an interview with as-Safir Lebanese daily, Berri stressed that "those who believe wasting time and procrastination will lead to holding of the elections based on the 1960's law are wrong and unaware of constitutional and legal facts surrounding this matter," he added.
"Based on article 11 of the 1960 law an independent authority for overseeing the elections must be established after a governmental decision," the speaker said, and noted that this body is to monitor the elections and receive the objections."

He further stated that " they forget that the government will not form this body as long as its parties along with the president are rejecting the 1960 law," Berri stressed.
"This automatically means that there won't be any elections based on this law for legal reasons prior to political ones," he said.
In parallel, he urged all sides to intensify efforts to agree on a new electoral law.
"I already told MP Robeir Ghanem that if the communication committee failed to reach an agreement, I will call the parliamentary committees to convene," Berri confirmed.
Meanwhile, he stated that his call for the joint committees to convene is natural and intuitive to complete the discussion on the electoral law.

Addressing his opponents, Berri wondered: "What was required from me .. Should I stand idle, while time is running out?"

Source: as-Safir Lebanese daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org