Christian Groups Urged to Vote as Lebanon Election Approaches

Christian groups in Lebanon are encouraging young people to take part in the upcoming parliamentary election despite the unjust electoral law. Political leaders, Kesrouan MP Farid Khazen, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) member Ibrahim Kanaan with Alain Aoun and George Abi Zeid from the National Bloc spoke to students at Notre Dame University (NDU) in Zouk Mosbeh.

As previously reported, the upcoming election will run according to the electoral law from 2000, used during the Syrian occupation to set up a pro-Syrian government. During this period, Christians were exposed to Islamisation and became the community belonging on the margin of the society.

After international intervention that resulted in Syrian withdrawal from the country, the hope of freedom for Christians is now facing another obstacle as the upcoming election are approaching.

The Taif Accord, the document that ended the civil war, links the political representations with demography of the population. According to the document Christians and Muslims are guaranteed the same number of seats in Parliament, meaning 64 for each.

However, the new Electoral Law 2000 has resulted in 49 of the 64 Christian representatives being selected by Muslims.

Many are worried that the Christian voice may be silenced by this - since Christian candidates elected by Muslims may be led to adjusting to the draft of the Muslim party they are candidating for, more than to their Christian faith and values.

In response to this, the Maronite Bishops' Council requested a revision of the law in order to ensure fair and democratic elections providing a non-discriminative atmosphere.

However, from several sides the Council was accused of attempting to postpone the election. The same countries and organisations that intervened for Syria to withdraw insisted on elections being held on time, despite the discriminative electoral law.

Saadeddine Hariri, leader of the Dignity Bloc met with Beirut Orthodox Archbishop Elias Aoudi and Beirut's Maronite Bishop Bolus Matar last week. During the meeting he stated that one of the first aims the new government should have is the new electoral law.

Khazen, during the conference at NDU said that: "We consider the 2000 law to be the burial ground of democratic life and Parliament in Lebanon," reported Lebanon’s Daily Star.

Alain Aoun (FPM), a controversial character in Lebanon's history, who recently came back from asylum in France, stated that FPM is committed to a clear electoral agenda that will form the basis of any coalition during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Strong support from the Christian population may be provided from immigrated Lebanese, who are mostly Christian. However, they are not allowed to take part in the upcoming election.

The election will commence on 29th May 2005 in four stages. It is expected, that through this poll the president will be elected, who, according to the Taif accord, should be Maronite Christian.

Even though the electoral law is said to be unfair to the Christian population and may not be able to provide correct representation of people's aspiration, Abi Zeid said "we should not boycott the elections," which will be the first democratic election after Syrian occupation.