Maronite Bishops' Council Criticise Lebanon Election

The Maronite Bishops' Council, during a meeting on Wednesday has criticised the current polling events in Lebanon. In the statement issued after a meeting presided by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, bishops expressed their disappointment over the chaos "prevailing within Christian ranks."

The Lebanese poll's first round took place last Sunday in Beirut and will continue with three more rounds held every Sunday. The second round is to be held in Mount Lebanon, with the 'real electoral battle" district of Baabda-Aley.

In the district consisting of Maronites, Druze and Shiite voters, Michel Aoun from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Walid Jumblatt will face each other, and both leaders of the opposition parties will battle out on issues of the current Lebanese political scene.

Their recent meeting to stand together in the election failed, and Aoun, leader of the resistance against the Syrian occupancy announced his political alliance with pro-Syrian rivals.

The failure of the attempt to create a unified opposition in the polls, despite pledges of unity a few months ago, was not left without remarks in the bishops' statement: "More unity is required in order to revive people's confidence in their country."

They added: "Competing in the parliamentary elections is legitimate in the spirit of democracy and mutual respect and according to national programs. But it becomes very harmful when it is transformed into a competition of interests and personal rivalries."

Bishops again expressed their disagreement with the pro-Syrian 2000 electoral law and point this as the reason for a "low turnout in the Beirut polls" and "the abstention of Christians from voting, which shows dissatisfaction."

Before the election process began last Sunday, Maronite Bishops' Council clearly expressed rejection of the unfair law that they claim is marginalising the Christian community.

Sfeir especially pointed out the fact that only 15 among 64 Christian deputies will be elected by Christians themselves. However he specified that this does not mean "only Christians can vote for Christians or Muslims for Muslims."

The result of the controversial electoral law 2000 is the elections are based on competing of sects, not electoral programs, a fact criticised by many, by Aoun as well: "We cannot allow the people to remain captives of their sect and to compete among one another. Only politicians should compete."