Lahoud, Berri Clash over Electoral Law, Geagea's Release

President Lahoud has intervened in a raging clash between the opposition and Syria's 'residual' loyalists over the method with which to hold the May-June legislative elections, urging Speaker Berri to bow to demands for an urgent session of parliament to promulgate a district-based electoral law. Lahoud used his constitutional powers for the first time since 1998 to address a letter to the speaker of parliament, saying the legislature should "take into consideration the need to hold the parliamentary elections on their constitutional deadlines under a law that guarantees the best expression of the will of the people, the sovereign source of all powers." An Nahar said "this exceptional initiative is only morally binding on Berri to convene an urgent session of the parliament to listen to the president's letter," which discourses at length on the shortcomings of the electoral law of 2000, which would be employed in the upcoming elections if parliament is prevented from writing a new one. The president is constitutionally obligated to sign the decree that invites the Lebanese to the May 29 polls on deadline on Thursday. Unless a new electoral law is promulgated by then, he will have to call the elections within the 2000 law. An Nahar said it could not reach Berri by telephone overnight for a reaction to Lahoud's move. But Al Bayrak newspaper, which is close to the Baabda Palace, quoted Berri as telling aides that no parliamentary sessions would be held for passing a new electoral law or to vote on Samir Geagea's release from jail. The 2000 law, which was promulgated under Syria's hegemony, would help Berri and Hizbullah to maintain their hold on south Lebanon, which Berri needs to keep on the speaker's gavel. A district-based law would help the opposition to make inroads into the south and stop Berri from maintaining the post for a fourth straight 4-year term since 1992.