Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi discussed on Sunday with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Rome the controversial electoral law. Berri was quoted as saying after the meeting that he will agree on any electoral law that has the consensus of the rival March 14 and 8 alliances.

Asked if he will call for a parliamentary session soon, the speaker said that he is “waiting.” Berri congratulated al-Rahi on the election of the new pope. In remarks distributed later by Miqati's office, Berri said he had submitted a hybrid electoral law that combines proportional representation and the winner-takes-all system to the electoral parliamentary subcommittee but that he withdrew his proposal when he noticed "the objection of all parties."

"I said let's withdraw the proposal and wait for any consensual draft law that might be proposed by any Lebanese party," Berri added, noting that he would support any such law. [Link]