BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt described proportional representation as a potential blow to his party’s declining influence in many areas and indicated that it would be difficult to change Lebanon’s current political system.

“We have some influence in what can be called a tight Druze circle. If what is being sought from proportional representation is a blow to what is left of our influence, then we understand. We got the message,” Jumblatt told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television in an interview aired Friday night.

Jumblatt also said that his party cannot compete with the political and human resources of other parties, even in the Chouf, a Druze stronghold, which he said has become more diverse.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet began discussing a draft electoral law based on a system of proportional representation drafted by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel. Many lawmakers, primarily President Michel Sleiman have supported the idea of proportional representation as means to eliminate sectarianism.

Lebanon’s current electoral law is a winner-takes-all system. Under the draft law, Lebanon would be divided into 10 to 14 medium-sized districts. The districts would be larger than a qada, the electoral regions adopted in the last parliamentary polls in 2009, but smaller than the governorates.

Jumblatt has in the past expressed his criticism of large districts.

“What is left of the socialist party is some influence in some areas. Unfortunately, the [influence] of the party has declined except in the area of Iqlim al-Kharroub which has one MP and that is minister Alaa Terro,” Jumblatt said.

The PSP leader also said that changes to the political system ended with the Taif Accord which brought to a close the 1975-1990 Civil War.

“The idea of changing the political system is over, given that we have entered into armed conflict … and it ended via a settlement within the Taif [Accord] which was called the sectarian political settlement,” he added.

Jumblatt then asked whether it is possible to change the country’s sectarian political system and approve civil laws such as civil marriage.

“Before we begin discussing proportional representation, we should discuss how we can out an end to political bribery, no one can do that,” the leader added.