Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel urged Lebanese expatriates on Tuesday to register to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections, calling them a decisive force capable of reshaping Lebanon’s political future. 

“We are at a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s history, and we are counting on you,” Gemayel said during a press conference held at the Kataeb headquarters in Saifi.

“You are partners in the rescue. We have reached a point where we can finally see light ahead, and we need your support to continue building the State and freeing Lebanon from all illegal arms. You are the powerful force capable of changing the equation. So register and be partners in saving Lebanon from the decline it has suffered for decades.”

Gemayel stressed that expatriates should play a direct role in determining the country’s future alongside Lebanese citizens at home, emphasizing the need for their “free votes.” He recalled that the Kataeb had submitted a draft law in early 2018 to abolish the six parliamentary seats allocated to Lebanese abroad and instead allow them to vote for all 128 lawmakers.

“That bill still lies in the drawers,” he said.

The Kataeb chief explained that both his party and the justice minister believe any amendment to the electoral law should originate from the government.

“Unfortunately, this view was not adopted,” he said, promising both resident and expatriate Lebanese that the Kataeb Party would “continue the battle until the end.” He added that the party is in contact with all political forces and parliamentary blocs to push the government to adopt and refer the bill to parliament.

Addressing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Gemayel said, “The will of the people is represented by 67 MPs who have clearly stated their support for abolishing the six seats. We amend laws all the time, so why not this one? No minority has the right to block the majority’s will.”

Gemayel warned the president and the prime minister against endorsing what he described as a move to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Lebanese living abroad.

“This is not a minor administrative matter,” he said. “It’s about the fate of hundreds of thousands of people whose participation is vital. Without them, Lebanon wouldn’t have survived. They are our wealth, and we must not gamble with their rights.”

He recalled that the Kataeb had objected to the current electoral law from the start, calling the allocation of just six diaspora seats a “catastrophe” that isolates expatriates instead of strengthening their connection to Lebanon.

“Instead of connecting them to their land and villages, we separated them,” he said.

Gemayel said his party has been raising this issue since November 2018, when it first proposed abolishing the six seats and granting expatriates the right to vote for the full parliament.

“For six or seven years, the draft has remained stuck. No one demanded its passage. We’ve been the lone voice in the wilderness,” he said.

The Kataeb leader said the issue has recently regained traction among political blocs, even though his party has been warning about it for years. 

He added that the topic was also raised in cabinet, where Justice Minister Adel Nassar insisted the government should introduce a draft law abrogating the six seats and adopting the 128-seat system.

“Unfortunately, the cabinet failed to act, which led Minister Nassar to withdraw from the session,” Gemayel said. “The minister and the Kataeb agree the amendment should have come from the government two months ago, but no one moved on it.”

He vowed that the party would continue to press for change in both the cabinet and parliament and would not rule out taking the fight to the streets.

“We are communicating with all parliamentary blocs to ensure the government sends the draft law to parliament,” he said, noting that both the cabinet and a parliamentary majority now seem leaning toward that position.

He also pointed out that the government itself has admitted it does not know how to implement the six-seat system without new legislation.

Gemayel revealed that he had received assurances from both the president and the prime minister that the diaspora’s right to vote would not be tampered with, urging expatriates to register “by any means possible, whether online, at embassies or consulates.”

“There is nothing to lose by registering,” he said. “We must increase the number of registered voters to counter the misinformation being spread to discourage participation. We want to raise the numbers, not lower them.”

Gemayel emphasized that the diaspora’s participation is essential not only because of their financial support but because expatriates represent “a free voice not swayed by intimidation or bribery.”

“Their votes serve only one purpose: Lebanon’s interest.”

Gemayel noted that about 30,000 expatriates voted in the first elections and 130,000 in the second, expressing hope that millions could take part in the next one.

“We need their voices more than ever,” he said.

He also denounced attempts by a minority to block the will of the majority.

“It is unacceptable for a minority to deprive hundreds of thousands of Lebanese of their right to determine their country’s future simply because they hold different political views,” he said.

Addressing the president and prime minister, Gemayel said: “This is not about appeasement. This is about people’s rights. Freedom stops where the freedom of others begins, and by denying expatriates their rights, you are violating the freedoms of others.”

Gemayel reaffirmed that the Kataeb will fight “to the very end — in the cabinet, in parliament, and if necessary, in the streets.”

“We want a parliament where those who want change form a sweeping majority,” he said. “What matters is that we do our part. Not registering means letting our opponents off the hook and relieving them of the electoral pressure our votes create.”

He expressed hope that the Foreign Ministry would do a better job organizing overseas voting than in previous elections, particularly in selecting polling centers.

“We trust that the minister will fulfill his duties properly,” he said, calling on all Kataeb branches abroad to mobilize and encourage members to register.

“Our message is clear,” Gemayel concluded. “Register, take part, and help us change Lebanon’s course. You are not just observers. You are partners in building the State and restoring Lebanon’s dignity.”