BEIRUT: Lebanon鈥檚 politics is famous for its deep divisions, but in this election there was one thing that managed to unite voters 鈥� confusion over the new electoral system.
The complex system merges proportional representation with quotas for each religious group to maintain the country鈥檚 sectarian balance among the 128 seats in parliament.
Under this arrangement, the majority system has been replaced and the threshold needed to win an election lowered 鈥� a plan that should benefit independents and reformers, easing the grip on the power of the country鈥檚 main clans.
But in some cases on Sunday it appeared to have even deterred people from casting their ballot.
鈥淚鈥檇 explain the new electoral law to you if I understood it myself, but I don鈥檛 understand it,鈥� Ali Tarheely, an employee at the American University Hospital, told Arab News.
鈥淧referential votes, not preferential votes 鈥� I don鈥檛 know, it鈥檚 confusing.鈥�
Under the system voters cast ballots both for their favored list of candidates and a preferred candidate on that list. But the lists group together candidates who in many cases would traditionally have been rivals.
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 know. We are obliged to vote for the whole candidate list which has candidates that we don鈥檛 want to vote for. I understand the elections, I just don鈥檛 understand the law,鈥� Maya, a store manager on Beirut鈥檚 Hamra street, said.
Some voters, such as self-employed Rudolph, believed the new system is helpful and better than the previous one, but still not good enough to inspire Lebanese people to go out and vote to make a change in the government.
Others are sure that the system, adopted into law last year after years of negotiations, will not make a difference and only keep power within the grasp of the political elite.
鈥淥nce they remove and erase sectarianism completely, then the country will see changes,鈥� mini-market owner George told Arab News. For now, he added, 鈥渋t鈥檚 just thieves coming and going.鈥�