Lebanese parliament approves electoral law

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s parliament on Friday approved a long-awaited electoral law, which will allow legislative elections to be held in May 2018 and usher in a new era of proportional representation.

The law was passed despite objections by lawmakers like Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel, independent member of parliament Boutros Harband Assem Qanso of the Baath Party.

Some activists rallied outside parliament to denounce the electoral law, which they said fell short of their expectations, according to the website An Nahar.

On Wednesday, the cabinet approved the new electoral law, which will be based on proportional representation and 15 electoral districts, replacing the winner-takes-all system for the first time in the country’s history.

The cabinet also approved an 11-month technical extension of parliament’s term until May 20, 2018, and stipulated that elections should be held within the 60 days that precede the expiry of the legislature’s term.

Elections will be held on May 6, according to a government source.

The dispute among Lebanese political leaders over the new law has threatened to plunge the country into a political crisis and leave it without a parliament for the first time.

The current term of the parliament, which has been extended twice since it was elected in 2009, was due to expire on June 20.

The law, which introduces a “preferential vote” system, will replace sectarian-based law passed in 1960. so-called an old,