| AMERICAN LEBANESE COORDINATION COUNCIL |
| For Independence & Truth Demonstration-Beirut, Lebanon. March 14, 2005 |
| Does the electoral law which was introduced by the former Syrian chief of intelligence in Lebanon Ghazi Kanaan represent the will of Syria's proxies in Lebanon or that of the million men/women independence march of March 14, 2005? Here is a sample of the current law for the districts of Beirut. |
| The Rmeil district which is a predominately Christian one is cut out of its geographic and demographic surrounding and placed with the predominately Muslim districts of Msaytbeh and Bashour for the sole purpose of diluting the Christian Vote which becomes a minority with no voting significance. The same goes for Ashrafeyeh and Saifi which are attached to Mazraha to dilute their Christian vote. As a result, no Christian can be elected without Muslim sponsorship, and no Muslim candidate needs a Christian support to be elected for he/she will have enough Muslim votes even if all of the Christians boycotted the elections. . . The same goes for the rest of the country of Lebanon-the oldest democracy in the Middle East... This is a sheer political monopoly; an oppression in disguise of democracy; and a dictatorship in disguise of elections. |
| DISTRIBUTION OF DISTRICTS AND SEATS |
| CLICK MAP TO VIEW DISTRICTS IN DETAILS |
| CLICK CHART TO ENLARGE |
The distribution of parliamentary seats in most regions is unfair to the Christians for it gives many of their seats to
regions with predominately Muslim constituencies. As a result, Christian members of parliament (MP) are elected by
non Christian constituencies while Muslim MPs are elected by Muslim ones. This plays a great deal in marginalizing
the Christians political power as well as in terms of economic development but especially in decision making for this
forces the Christians' MPs to cater for the Muslim majority of their constituencies instead of being fair to all people in
a given district. For example, according to the population of the district of Jbail, the Christians deserve more than (2)
Maronite seats while the Chouf district should have less than (3). In this case, MP seats are distributed in such ways
which give more leverage to the Druze vote over a Christian MP than to the Christians themselves. This, too, has
been playing a role in the marginalization and weakening of the Christians political and economic roles in Lebanon.
Furthermore, minorities makes up more than 1% of the total population in Lebanon. Therefore, they certainly
deserves more than (1) vote, which is 1.28% of parliamentary seats. In reality, one vote in the Lebanese
parliamentary system is equal to ZERO for it can achieve nothing without the help of others.
In addition to the need to redraw the electoral districts, it is also important to redistribute the parliamentary seats in
most, if not all, regions in order to establish fair and proper representations of the people based on the geography
and demography of the country.
Another problem stands in the way of progress in Lebanon is the lack of a balance of power, not only among the
FOUR branches of government (Presidency, Premiership, Legislation, and Judiciary), but also within each branch.
For example, the power of the Speaker of the House is unlimited. If he wishes, he can paralyze the work of the entire
legislation branch without fearing any repercussion for he has the power to convene, or not, the parliament as he
wishes. In order to prevent extremism and or the abuse of authority, the power of any given branch of government
must be removed from the hand of the one person to the hand of the group. For example, if for one reason or
another, the Speaker of the House did not convene the parliament, then the vice speaker should do. If that failed too,
then the eldest MP should lead the session given that a quorum is reached. This will not only prevent abuse of
power, but it will also give a legal way to deal with issues in times of national crises.
Anyhow, despite all of these disadvantages, the best way to end oppression and to reinstate democracy in Lebanon
is to speak your conscious, demand your rights, VOTE, VOTE, and VOTE!!!
Let the million-Lebanese demonstration of Mach 14, be the model of the new united Lebanon; Let the liberation of
Lebanon be the first step of the 1000-mile trip towards reform and progress; Let democracy prevail because the
alternative is chaos...
Meanwhile, let’s hope that the new parliament will deal with such serious issues responsibly, especially since reform
and change are necessary in order for Lebanon to STOP the culture of corruption which was installed by Syria, and
to move forward to establish a culture of integrity-A Lebanese style democracy.
Pierre A. Maroun
May 15, 2005
TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE
regions with predominately Muslim constituencies. As a result, Christian members of parliament (MP) are elected by
non Christian constituencies while Muslim MPs are elected by Muslim ones. This plays a great deal in marginalizing
the Christians political power as well as in terms of economic development but especially in decision making for this
forces the Christians' MPs to cater for the Muslim majority of their constituencies instead of being fair to all people in
a given district. For example, according to the population of the district of Jbail, the Christians deserve more than (2)
Maronite seats while the Chouf district should have less than (3). In this case, MP seats are distributed in such ways
which give more leverage to the Druze vote over a Christian MP than to the Christians themselves. This, too, has
been playing a role in the marginalization and weakening of the Christians political and economic roles in Lebanon.
Furthermore, minorities makes up more than 1% of the total population in Lebanon. Therefore, they certainly
deserves more than (1) vote, which is 1.28% of parliamentary seats. In reality, one vote in the Lebanese
parliamentary system is equal to ZERO for it can achieve nothing without the help of others.
In addition to the need to redraw the electoral districts, it is also important to redistribute the parliamentary seats in
most, if not all, regions in order to establish fair and proper representations of the people based on the geography
and demography of the country.
Another problem stands in the way of progress in Lebanon is the lack of a balance of power, not only among the
FOUR branches of government (Presidency, Premiership, Legislation, and Judiciary), but also within each branch.
For example, the power of the Speaker of the House is unlimited. If he wishes, he can paralyze the work of the entire
legislation branch without fearing any repercussion for he has the power to convene, or not, the parliament as he
wishes. In order to prevent extremism and or the abuse of authority, the power of any given branch of government
must be removed from the hand of the one person to the hand of the group. For example, if for one reason or
another, the Speaker of the House did not convene the parliament, then the vice speaker should do. If that failed too,
then the eldest MP should lead the session given that a quorum is reached. This will not only prevent abuse of
power, but it will also give a legal way to deal with issues in times of national crises.
Anyhow, despite all of these disadvantages, the best way to end oppression and to reinstate democracy in Lebanon
is to speak your conscious, demand your rights, VOTE, VOTE, and VOTE!!!
Let the million-Lebanese demonstration of Mach 14, be the model of the new united Lebanon; Let the liberation of
Lebanon be the first step of the 1000-mile trip towards reform and progress; Let democracy prevail because the
alternative is chaos...
Meanwhile, let’s hope that the new parliament will deal with such serious issues responsibly, especially since reform
and change are necessary in order for Lebanon to STOP the culture of corruption which was installed by Syria, and
to move forward to establish a culture of integrity-A Lebanese style democracy.
Pierre A. Maroun
May 15, 2005
TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE
| Lebanon's Parliamentary Elections-2005-A Syrian Style Democracy |