BEIRUT: The parliamentary subcommittee working to come to a consensus on a new electoral law concluded Wednesday a first round of talks with sessions set to resume later during the day.

MP Robert Ghanem said that the meetings will resume in the afternoon after he holds talks with House Speaker Nabih Berri.

Ghanem told reporters that the subcommittee will decide whether it will extend its meetings from 6 pm Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt said he is willing to discuss fresh ideas to help create a new law for parliamentary elections in Lebanon, due this summer.

“I am open and ready to discuss any positive electoral idea,” Jumblatt said in remarks published Wednesday by the local daily As-Safir.

Jumblatt warned that no electoral law would automatically mean victory for a particular political party.

He said national consensus will be needed after the general elections, scheduled for June 9.

The subcommittee had initially resumed meetings on Jan. 8 to discuss several draft laws for the coming parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place in June.

Discussions of the rival March 8 and March 14 lawmakers focused this week on a proposal to hold the elections based on a combination of a winner-takes-all system and proportional representation.

The subcommittee, however, still hasn’t made a decisive decision over a new law for the elections.