A group of Lebanese MPs, who previously initiated a petition to preserve the right of expatriates to vote for all 128 MPs, called on the Parliament to immediately prioritize a government draft law amending key provisions of the country’s 2017 electoral law, warning that any delay could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens living abroad.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the MPs said that holding parliamentary elections as scheduled in May is a “constitutional obligation that cannot be postponed.” They urged the Parliament to place the government’s expedited draft law on the General Assembly agenda without delay, stressing that the measure is essential to ensuring the integrity of the upcoming vote.

“The government has fulfilled its duty by submitting the necessary amendments to Election Law No. 44/2017, directly tied to organizing the electoral process, particularly regarding the voting rights of Lebanese living abroad,” the statement said.

The MPs warned that with the expatriate voter registration deadline set for November 20, any delay in presenting, debating, and voting on the draft law constitutes a direct threat to the rights of Lebanese abroad. The draft explicitly provides for extending the registration period until December 31. 

They added that referring the draft to parliamentary committees at this stage, or failing to place it among the General Assembly’s top priorities, “effectively sabotages the electoral process” and could prevent compliance with constitutional and logistical deadlines.

“This is unacceptable under any pretext,” the statement said.

Citing the principle of cooperation among constitutional authorities, the MPs called for the expedited draft to be read, debated, and voted on immediately in the first session of the General Assembly. They also warned that “full responsibility rests with any party that obstructs, delays, or disrupts the electoral process,” saying such actions would amount to denying all Lebanese, inside and outside the country, their right to choose their representatives.

The MPs concluded with a direct appeal to the Lebanese diaspora: “We urge you to register to vote abroad before the current deadline expires. Your participation is essential to safeguarding democracy and ensuring the elections are conducted with transparency and fairness.”