Dashing our hopes for reform

Back in 2013, Parliament extended its own mandate in part to allow it more time to agree on a fair and representative electoral law. Instead of spending four years working toward this goal, the legislature did very little with the four extra years in office it granted itself. From the second the ink dried on Parliament’s second term extension (remember, the four years were granted in two chunks), it was clear a new law needed to be agreed prior to February 21, 2017– the date on which the current law says voters must be welcomed to the polls scheduled for May 21. Missing that deadline is inexcusable. When President Michel Aoun assumed office in late October 2016, it was clear the government formed as a result of his election would be short-lived, with a very narrow mandate: choosing a new electoral law. Instead of immediately getting to work on agreeing