BEIRUT: The lack of provision for electronic voting is a major flaw in the new electoral law, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Wednesday.

“While appreciating the effort made by the Interior Ministry, I would like to point to a major flaw in this [electoral] law ... which excludes the idea of electronic voting that allows voters to vote in any place – be they in Lebanon or abroad,” Berri told reporters following talks with President Michel Sleiman.

Not only does e-voting offer a solution to a number of problems – most importantly transportation expenses – it also reinforces transparency in the election process, Berri said.

Besides the election law, Berri said he discussed with Sleiman the country’s financial situation as well as the need for relaunching national dialogue.

“I say it for the last time. I am not against picking up where we left off and discussng all the items that have been previously discussed [at the dialogue table],” Berri said.