The vice of vested interest

If there is one thing that has become clear since the debate over electoral reform resurfaced in Lebanon, as it does every four years, it is that the main political forces in the country consider elections to be a form of leverage over the people rather than an opportunity to ensure fair and democratic representation. While the Council of Ministers, Lebanon’s cabinet, passed an electoral reform law in August, whether this passes Parliament — and if it does, how it will have been altered — is still yet to be seen. Unfortunately, the election law that governs next year’s ballot will likely resemble the previous one: Distorted legislation that comes out of an 11th hour negotiation and falls short of basic democratic standards. In short, it is unlikely that the ruling elite will allow any significant rocking of the boat. In any case, the public should know why our so-called