Lebanon’s Justice Ministry Legislation and Consultations Committee has affirmed the right of expatriate citizens to vote in 15 electoral districts, covering all 128 parliamentary seats, in a decision that clearly contradicts Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The decision followed a request from Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar for the committee’s opinion on voting rights for Lebanese living abroad. While confirming expatriates’ rights, the committee ruled that implementing District 16—which allocates only six parliamentary seats to voters abroad—is legally impossible “due to the lack of approved legal texts necessary for these seats, constituting a true legal impossibility preventing the application of Chapter 11 of the electoral law.”

The committee emphasized that the inability to implement certain provisions, such as District 16, does not negate other legal rights, including the broader expatriate vote. Its ruling cited Article 111 of the electoral law, which guarantees every Lebanese citizen residing outside the country the right to vote.

In taking this position, the committee directly contradicted Berri while aligning with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s approach, which calls for separating sections of the law: suspending Article 112 (District 16) as an administrative measure, while preserving Article 11 as an unassailable right for expatriates. The committee also cautioned that District 16 cannot be abolished without legislative approval, leaving the final decision in Berri’s hands.

Berri reacted publicly with outrage, describing the committee’s opinion as “incompatible with reality” and accusing it of attempting to halt enforcement of the law rather than ensure its implementation. In remarks that suggested a broader political motive, he implied the ruling was part of a plan to delay parliamentary elections, hinting—without naming names—that the Prime Minister’s office may have influenced the decision.

“This ruling did not come from nowhere; it came at the direction of a party planning in advance to stop elections that must take place under the current electoral law and prevent them from being held on time,” Berri said.

Reinforcing his personal commitment to the elections, Berri noted that he had formally registered as a candidate to counter claims that he favored extending Parliament.

“I have insisted, and continue to insist, on holding elections on schedule and that all parties take responsibility in facilitating them, rather than placing obstacles in their way,” he said.

While the committee’s opinion is not legally binding, it is expected to guide the Interior Minister in implementing the law.