Conflict Incident Report

Activists from the Parliament For Everybody protest group rallied outside Baabda Palace, where a Cabinet session took place chaired by President Michel Aoun.

Protesters blasted the government for not agreeing on a new vote law.

One placard read “The Parliament of extension," with others accusing the government of corruption.

A larger banner called for a proportional vote law with large voter districts.

Speaking to local media, an activist expressed her concern about the situation.

“The committee that Prime Minister (Saad) Hariri formed to solve the deadlock over the new electoral law has only met once since it was formed 24 days ago,” she said.

Given the short Cabinet session and the lack of a specific vote law proposal on the Cabinet agenda, ministers are expected to have a general discussion on the electoral law with no breakthrough anticipated.

Parliament For Everybody and other activists have been protesting government meetings, as politicians scramble to agree on a new electoral law.

On April 15, Parliament was set to vote on extending its term for a third time. However, Aoun used his powers based on Article 59 of the Constitution, which allow him to suspend the Parliament’s session one time for a period of a month, in order to grant parties another month to reach an agreement on an electoral law and forestall any extension of Parliament.

Rivals remain at odds on the shape of the new voting system, which would replace the current 1960 majoritarian system. Parties are deeply divided between the adoption of a proportional vote law and a hybrid electoral law, which combines aspects of the proportional and majoritarian voting systems.

Elections are set to be held in June but are expected to be delayed to well after that date due to persisting political deadlock.