Suleiman Meets Mansour: It’s Natural for Expatriates to Vote in 2013 Elections
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman noted on Monday that French citizens of Lebanese heritage practiced their right to vote in France’s presidential election on Sunday.
He therefore said that “it is only natural for Lebanese expatriates to vote in the 2013 parliamentary elections.”
He hoped that “serious discussion and efforts” would kick off over the adoption of an electoral law in order for “the necessary preparations for the law and the voting of expatriates to get underway.”
To this end, the president held talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on allowing expatriates to vote.
Suleiman stressed the importance of filling diplomatic vacancies in order to prepare embassies and consulates for the elections.
The minister had revealed to As Safir newspaper Monday that the mechanism allowing Lebanese expatriates to vote in the upcoming 2013 elections has been drafted and referred to the cabinet.
The Foreign Ministry had finished the proposal eight months ago and is still waiting for the cabinet to tackle the issue, said Mansour.
“There are no obstacles facing the participation of Lebanese expats in the 2013 parliamentary elections,” he later told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).
The minister told As Safir that the draft law includes an integrated, non-complicated mechanism that would enable the Lebanese expatriates to vote in the 2013 polls.
He urged the cabinet to include the draft law on the agenda of the upcoming session in order to allow the expatriates to know what they should do to be able to vote.
For his part, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said in comments to VDL that the cabinet must swiftly adopt a draft law concerning the vote of Lebanese expats in order to complete all the necessary preparations.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati told As Safir that Wednesday’s cabinet session will discuss the participation of Lebanese expats in the 2013 polls.
Lebanese officials are exerting efforts in order to formulate an electoral draft law that ensures a sound parliamentary representation of sects.
However, there’s no agreement yet over the issue.
23 April 2012, 15:10
31
If one chose to be a naturalized citizen of a foreign country instead of lebanon (which gives out citizenship to all lebanese)ä who want it) then why do you want to vote in a election that effects those who actually live in lebanon? That is hypocrisy. You want a say in the fate of lebanon but you do not actually want to live in it and feel what we feel.
23 April 2012, 19:58
02
Sulienman is right. Only expatriates can change the status qua in Lebanon. Lebanese living in Lebanon are continuously bombarded with brainwashing propaganda by the political leaders and their media institutions that they become blind to how much cattle-like they are. Only when you live abroad for a few years you start realizing how crap our country is and how all the politicians (14 and 8 no exception) need to be thrown in jails forever. Lebanese outside can change Lebanon!
23 April 2012, 18:05
00
@ Tripolian, it doesnt mean if you dont live in lebanon that you cannot vote. Your point of view is biaised and totally inaccurate. Many lebanese left Lebanon in order to get a job or opportunities and know more than you and I in lebanese politics and have finally cleared up their minds about everything in the past. They are a lot and their votes can count on one side or another. It is only fair for your people to vote whoever they want to vote. Dont think all lebanese expatriates are fool and more than 20% of the Lebanese population in Lebanon are living from revenues that they get from outside Lebanon ( Arab countries , Africa, Canada, USA ). So if what the foreign ministry says is true, the law must be adopted with its amendement that allow expats to vote.
@ Flamethrower, you are right on this one, we should vote in parliament and hell with whoever doesnt not want it now the problem of expats is solved.
23 April 2012, 19:24
10
Sulienman is right. Only expatriates can change the status qua in Lebanon. Lebanese living in Lebanon are continuously bombarded with brainwashing propaganda by the political leaders and their media institutions that they become blind to how much cattle-like they are. Only when you live abroad for a few years you start realizing how crap our country is and how all the politicians (14 and 8 no exception) need to be thrown in jails forever. Lebanese outside can change Lebanon!
23 April 2012, 22:58
00
a lot of lebaneese are forgoten for over 35years in haiti .no body care obout their existance.no consulate no embassy
23 April 2012, 23:03
11
But it is rather the question if the lebanese expats really want to vote for Lebanon. For sure there are some who would vote but I think the far majority won´t do so :/
24 April 2012, 03:57
10
Lol that excuse is old and not valid. Tell me, why do you insist on beeing naturalized citizens in foreign countries but not in lebanon? Sending home money for relatives does not make you a hero. If you care so much about voting, then become lebanese on paper, otherwise your a hypocrite.
