Marwan Abdallah, head of the Kataeb Party’s Foreign Affairs Department, said the party is stepping up efforts to secure full voting rights for Lebanese living abroad, warning that delays in updating the country’s electoral law risk leaving millions of citizens overseas in political limbo.

In an interview with LBCI, Abdallah singled out parliament’s slow pace as the main obstacle to reform, noting that the Kataeb bloc had proposed an amendment in 2018 aimed at boosting participation among the diaspora.

“We are waiting for the Cabinet to do its job,” Abdallah said. “We cannot leave Lebanese citizens abroad in a state of confusion. Today, we are pressuring the President and the government to resolve this matter because expatriates have the right to vote for all 128 MPs. Voting rights for expatriates are a fundamental issue for us, and we will not allow any rollback.”

He stressed that the issue is not political but existential, shaping the future of Lebanon.

“The framework for addressing this matter is parliament. Lawmakers must reconsider their domestic and international political choices wisely. Both the law and the constitution guarantee equality among all Lebanese, wherever they are. Lebanese expatriates play a key role in maintaining social and geographic connections. They cannot be treated like other foreigners because each expatriate owns property in Lebanon, has family here, spends holidays in the country, and preserves Lebanese culture and heritage abroad. This matter must be resolved urgently.”

Abdallah said the party would pursue every possible democratic avenue to ensure diaspora participation.

“We will pursue this issue to the very end to guarantee expatriates’ right to vote. We will use every democratic channel, whether in the streets, in government, or in parliament, because this struggle is crucial. All democratic steps are on the table. It is worth noting that Kataeb’s expatriate vote numbers are not the highest, but this is secondary to the larger goal of building a state and a homeland that reflects our aspirations. We are a democratic party, and any obstruction is a problem.”

He added that expatriates must vote freely for candidates who serve the country, not under pressure or in exchange for favors.

“What is needed is a framework to solve our problems. We are a diverse country, and that diversity is our strength. When you live in a state, you must follow its laws, or leave it.”

Abdallah also criticized Hezbollah for its role in Lebanon’s deterioration.

“A Shiite citizen lived in Africa for ten years, invested in the South, built a home, yet was bombed because of a party that destroyed the country. This is why his grievance is with that party. Elections are a way to break free from the domination of this group. The one who primarily destroyed Lebanon is Hezbollah.”

“The concern is not with the expatriate vote itself, but with the Lebanese citizens whose livelihoods have been destroyed, who have suffered, been displaced, and forced to leave their villages," he concluded.