Hezbollah’s Musawi: new election law key to consensus

A new electoral law is vital for Lebanese consensus, Hezbollah MP Nawaf Musawi said, criticizing those expecting regional changes to translate to Lebanon. “Reaching Lebanese consensus starts with a new electoral law that ensures national unity as well as fair and proper representation,” Musawi said in remarks published Monday, “so that Parliament can be the passage to a new, strong and fair state that is truly capable of shouldering its responsibility in facing an Israeli aggression on Lebanon and reclaiming the remaining occupied land.” His comments were made during an Iftar late Sunday in south Lebanon. “Those betting on regional or international developments are wrong. \"Lebanese facts throughout the history show that regional developments cannot change the Lebanese formula – a pluralism based on partnership and balance,” Musawi said. “Those who want to bet on regional or international developments to make adjustments [to the formula] are wrong,” he warned. Musawi said the situation in Syria will remain the same until an “international settlement is reached or if the Syrian state triumphs over its enemies.” He urged “those betting that the Syrian regime is doomed to collapse and who have built their political vision on this basis” to reconsider their gamble. Musawi pointed out that Syria is likely to face the same fate as that of Iraq. “The situation in Syria will drag on just as in Iraq. The forces that are fighting there [Syria] today, and I mean external more than internal forces, will not be able to bring down the central state even if the country has entered in the midst of strife and a sea of blood,” Musawi warned. From DailyStar