The gulf between Lebanon's two main political blocs — the March 8 and March 14 coalitions — looms large as they are put to the first real test in preparing for upcoming parliamentary elections: agreeing on an electoral law. Hezbollah has managed its bloc tactfully, intelligently and with ease and has scored a number of points, which provide significant political support to its Christian ally Gen. Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, a sense of loss and confusion prevailed among the opposition bloc — the March 14 coalition — which appears increasingly disjointed.
The two Christian parties — or "brotherly rivals," the Lebanese Forces Party and the Kataeb Party — surprised their opposition allies when they again supported an election law carrying the name of its writers: the "Orthodox Gathering" proposal. This draft would have members of each sect elect their representatives in parliament on a proportional basis, with all of Lebanon considered a single electoral district.
