BEIRUT: A delegation from MP Walid Jumblatt's parliamentary bloc is expected to meet Saturday with Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss Lebanon's new vote law.

A Democratic Gathering bloc kicked off a tour earlier this week to discuss with senior political leaders the position of the Progressive Socialist Party over ongoing contacts to agree on a new electoral law.

Berri met with Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk Friday and reportedly told the latter to "act as if the [parliamentary] elections will be held [within days], particularly when there's an already-existing vote law."

"These measures are normal but things are hanging on to the possibility of reaching a new electoral law...unfortunately if we fail to agree [on a new vote law] then the current [1960] law is applicable," Berri was quoted by his visitors as saying to local newspapers Saturday.

Berri said that contacts were ongoing but nothing was on the horizon. "I can't say I am optimistic...rather I am waiting."

He added that it falls within President Michel Aoun's prerogatives to call for a dialogue over the matter.

MP Walid Jumblatt, leader of the Democratic Gathering bloc, had said Tuesday in remarks to a local newspaper that he rejects the adoption of a new electoral law outside the majoritarian system.

Lebanese parties have been divided over adopting a proportional vote law or a hybrid electoral law which includes aspects of the proportional and the current 1960 winner-take-all systems.

The Free Patriotic Movement, Amal Movement and Hezbollah have repeatedly expressed their support for a proportional electoral law.

However, some officials have not ruled out the idea that elections could again be held under the current 1960 law if no agreement is made in time.

Parliamentary elections are set to be held in May.

A series of meetings were held last year by parliamentary subcommittees and various blocs in an attempt to reconcile two different hybrid electoral laws to replace the controversial 1960 majoritarian system which was used in the last parliamentary elections in 2009.

One proposal was made by Speaker Nabih Berri’s bloc that calls for half of Parliament’s 128 members to be elected on the basis of proportional representation and the other half on the current 1960 winner-take-all system.

The other hybrid proposal, presented by the Future Movement, the Lebanese Forces and PSP, calls for 60 MPs to be elected on the basis of proportional representation, and the remaining 68 MPs on a winner-take-all system.