According to an article in today's WSJ by Michel Aoun, a former prime minister of Lebanon:
You see, after Lebanon was liberated from Syrian occuopation, the international community (apparentlyuenamored by the quixotic images of the Cedar Revolution) demanded that the Lebanese electons take place immmediately and "on time"; it brushed off our grave concerns about the electoral law in force, which had been carefully crafted by Syria and imposed upon Lebanon in the year 2000 to ensure re-election of Syria's favorite legislators.This flawed electoral law -- initially imposed upon us by Syria and them reimposed upon us by the international community -- has had disastrous results. It brought to power a Lebanese government with absolute two-thirds majority powers, but which was elected by only one-third of populace.
I can't vouch for it, and one wishes he had been more specific, but FWIW.
I know that Jimmah Carter went to Israel to "VERIFY" and observe the Palestinian elections....do we know if he went to Lebanon for theirs??
Because it would be just like him to push for a date too soon for the Lebanese...but which would be helpful for the Hezzies to win seats.