Adwan insists on debating expats' right to vote after Berri-Geagea spar

W460

Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan said Tuesday his party is keen on holding the parliamentary elections on time, urging the government and parliament to vote on an amendment to the law that would allow expats to vote for all 128 seats.

Hezbollah and Amal argue that they do not enjoy the same campaigning freedom that other parties enjoy abroad and are objecting the amendment of the current law, which only allows expats to vote for six newly-introduced seats in parliament.

Sixty-five MPs forming a parliamentary majority have submitted a draft law to amend the electoral law to include voting from outside Lebanon but Speaker Nabih Berri refused to discuss the amendment in Parliament.

He said the May 2026 elections will be held on time but that "there is no time for any amendment".

The Foreign Ministry later submitted to the government an urgent draft law for the abolition of Articles 112 and 122 of the electoral law, which limit the representation of expats to six newly-introduced seats.

On Monday, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the Speaker cannot replace the parliament, accusing him of "undermining parliament, the parliamentary system, the Lebanese system and entire democracy."

"It is the parliamentary majority that decides in parliament, not you not any other person," Geagea said. "Either there is a constitution, law and order or there is the law of the jungle. We will no longer tolerate the law of the jungle."

"The solution to the expats' voting should be through a draft law passed by the government and sent to Parliament for voting," Adwan said, urging President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to include the draft law on the government's agenda for voting.

He said the final decision must be taken by a vote in a plenary session and that his bloc will abide by that decision, even if they disagree with it.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 1
Missing upwith 21 October 2025, 16:00

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