The Kataeb Party’s parliamentary bloc walked out of Monday’s legislative session, citing the legislature’s failure to address the voting rights of Lebanese citizens living abroad under the current election law.
Speaking to reporters after the walkout, Kataeb leader MP Samy Gemayel warned that the registration period for expatriate voters is only weeks away, yet citizens remain unclear on how their ballots will be counted.
“A parliamentary subcommittee has produced no results, and a recent Cabinet session confirmed that the current law is unworkable. Parliament must clarify how voting for Lebanese abroad will be implemented, especially since the majority supports allowing them to vote for all 128 seats,” Gemayel said.
He stressed that the current law only provides six seats for expatriates, a measure he described as marginalizing citizens living outside Lebanon.
“Including expatriates fully would allow them to play a meaningful role in Lebanon’s political life,” he said. “If this issue is not addressed, we risk disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of Lebanese abroad, potentially postponing elections or holding them without granting these citizens their right to vote.”
Gemayel emphasized that the session dealt a serious blow to expatriate voting.
“The issue wasn’t even discussed, and no attempt was made to find a solution—whether for six seats or all 128."
Gemayel added that the Kataeb bloc’s withdrawal was meant to highlight the urgency of the matter.
At the session’s opening, Gemayel asked Interior Minister Ahmed al-Hajjar whether elections could be conducted under the current law. Al-Hajjar replied: “No, it is not possible.” Gemayel then addressed Speaker Nabih Berri: “You see, Mr. Speaker? He says it is not possible.”
As Speaker Berri warned against bypassing the current law, Gemayel insisted: “We no longer insist on voting for all 128 seats; we only want the six designated seats. Can the law still be applied?”