Comments on: A Lebanese Fudge (updated) http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/ Blogging Lebanon since 2005 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:02:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Boutros Law Gets Two Powerful Backers | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2771 Boutros Law Gets Two Powerful Backers | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog Tue, 06 May 2008 11:25:08 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2771 [...] was commissioned in 2005 but never took off because of the Israeli war, is a modern law which comes closest to fulfilling the two conflicting Lebanese needs of true representation and [...] [...] was commissioned in 2005 but never took off because of the Israeli war, is a modern law which comes closest to fulfilling the two conflicting Lebanese needs of true representation and [...]

]]> By: The Boutros Election Law | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2770 The Boutros Election Law | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:23:11 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2770 [...] Mr. Hariri is right, a lot has changed since 1960s, but neither he, nor Mr. Aoun cared to mention, let alone discuss, its modern alternative; namely, Mr. Fouad Boutros’ progressive proposal. [...] [...] Mr. Hariri is right, a lot has changed since 1960s, but neither he, nor Mr. Aoun cared to mention, let alone discuss, its modern alternative; namely, Mr. Fouad Boutros’ progressive proposal. [...]

]]> By: Rampurple http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2760 Rampurple Fri, 02 Jun 2006 23:18:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2760 MABROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!!<BR/>/me attempting a zaghrouta MABROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!!
/me attempting a zaghrouta

]]> By: Anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2761 Anonymous Thu, 01 Jun 2006 22:04:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2761 I didn't read the details yet, but it doesn't sound that bad right now. I have always thought that a mix of proportional and majority was the best solution. I didn’t read the details yet, but it doesn’t sound that bad right now. I have always thought that a mix of proportional and majority was the best solution.

]]> By: Anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2762 Anonymous Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:24:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2762 Mustapha,<BR/>Very enlightning entry. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>But do you mean draft instead of draught? and is it kadaa not kazaa? Mustapha,
Very enlightning entry. Thanks!

But do you mean draft instead of draught? and is it kadaa not kazaa?

]]> By: Anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2763 Anonymous Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:05:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2763 It is probably to early to comment on the election law now. That said, I find the leaks rather promising and not as negative as some of you are portraying them.<BR/>The approach of having 77 MPs elected by majority rule in small districts (Kazaas) and 51 elected via a proportional system on the distric level, can indeed have very positive results. This system, which has been heavily associated with Germany's election law, can produce MPs that are highly representative of a certain area (Kazaa), thereby conforting minorities that are clustered in smaller regions, while at the same time "forcing" the other 51 MPs to adopt political programmes that appeal to the electorate of a wider region (mohafazaa), if they want to be reelected. The proportional system will also mean that parties that enjoy some level of support all over Lebanon, but that cannot muster a majority in any one district, such as many leftist and secular parties, now have a better chance to enter parliament.<BR/>Reducing the voting age to 18 years will finally give the bulk of university students influence in politics, which is both positive (empowering the youth, giving new voices a chance) and negative (many seem to be even more ignorant than their parents).<BR/>Very good news would be the granting of the right to vote to Lebanese emigrants. This right could singlehandedly change Lebanese politics to the better, given the diaspora's education level, heir foreign experience in mostly successful nations and their economic clout.<BR/><BR/>As for increasing the rate of female MPs (which in itself is welcomed) by a 30% women quota, this will be hard to achieve in one election given the current rate of around 5%. It is probably to early to comment on the election law now. That said, I find the leaks rather promising and not as negative as some of you are portraying them.
The approach of having 77 MPs elected by majority rule in small districts (Kazaas) and 51 elected via a proportional system on the distric level, can indeed have very positive results. This system, which has been heavily associated with Germany’s election law, can produce MPs that are highly representative of a certain area (Kazaa), thereby conforting minorities that are clustered in smaller regions, while at the same time “forcing” the other 51 MPs to adopt political programmes that appeal to the electorate of a wider region (mohafazaa), if they want to be reelected. The proportional system will also mean that parties that enjoy some level of support all over Lebanon, but that cannot muster a majority in any one district, such as many leftist and secular parties, now have a better chance to enter parliament.
Reducing the voting age to 18 years will finally give the bulk of university students influence in politics, which is both positive (empowering the youth, giving new voices a chance) and negative (many seem to be even more ignorant than their parents).
Very good news would be the granting of the right to vote to Lebanese emigrants. This right could singlehandedly change Lebanese politics to the better, given the diaspora’s education level, heir foreign experience in mostly successful nations and their economic clout.

As for increasing the rate of female MPs (which in itself is welcomed) by a 30% women quota, this will be hard to achieve in one election given the current rate of around 5%.

]]> By: JoseyWales http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2764 JoseyWales Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:08:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2764 Need more details,<BR/><BR/>but IMHO quotas and lower age are a bad idea. Need more details,

but IMHO quotas and lower age are a bad idea.

]]> By: Mustapha http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2765 Mustapha Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:54:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2765 Perps, <BR/>The update answers your question,<BR/><BR/>S.B,<BR/>I don't know what you think the right answer is, but I support the Ghanaian team (caught you off gard, didn't i?)<BR/><BR/>Omega,<BR/><BR/>ANYTHING is better than the rustom ghazaleh law, which was designed to reduce hariri's influence.. Perps,
The update answers your question,

S.B,
I don’t know what you think the right answer is, but I support the Ghanaian team (caught you off gard, didn’t i?)

Omega,

ANYTHING is better than the rustom ghazaleh law, which was designed to reduce hariri’s influence..

]]> By: Omega80 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2766 Omega80 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 05:50:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2766 At least we can breathe a sigh of relief that Ghazi Kanaan's Law is about to enter the dustbin of history. In the end, you can't satisfy everyone so what is best for the country as a whole is what should be accepted. At least we can breathe a sigh of relief that Ghazi Kanaan’s Law is about to enter the dustbin of history. In the end, you can’t satisfy everyone so what is best for the country as a whole is what should be accepted.

]]> By: Anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2767 Anonymous Wed, 31 May 2006 18:37:00 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2006/05/31/lebanese-fudge-updated/#comment-2767 I like your new Beirutspring Worldcup logo :)<BR/><BR/>Speaking of which, which team do you support? (i really hope you give the right answer)<BR/><BR/>S.B I like your new Beirutspring Worldcup logo :)

Speaking of which, which team do you support? (i really hope you give the right answer)

S.B

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