Miqati: I Urge Lebanese All over the World to Register at Embassies to Vote in 2013 Elections
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Thursday that Lebanon “cannot rise” without its local residents and expatriates, highlighting the Lebanese cabinet’s approval of a mechanism to allow expatriates to vote in the 2013 parliamentary elections.
He urged before Lebanese expatriates in Belgium “Lebanese all over the world to register at embassies and consulates in order to be able to vote in the elections.”
“We have provided all necessary means for the expatriates and cabinet’s decision would be useless if you do not sign up,” he added.
“It is not acceptable to simply criticize the current reality without taking part in the elections. Lebanon’s most unique feature is its freedom,” remarked the premier.
“We don’t all have to share the same views, but we should voice our opinions through voting,” stressed Miqati.
The prime minister concluded on Friday his three-day visit to Belgium by holding talks with EU President Herman Van Rompuy, European parliament President Martin Schulz, and Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders.
Van Rompuy “commended Miqati’s efforts to maintain stability in his country, which is an example of cultural and religious diversity, and encouraged him at the same time to progress with domestic reforms.”
“The EU is ready to accompany Lebanon on these reforms, to transform challenges into opportunities,” he added.
“I also encouraged Lebanon to accede to the World Trade Organization and to increase its participation in the process of regional integration,” he said.
He also expressed the full commitment of the EU to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to guarantee stability in southern Lebanon, welcoming Lebanon’s commitment to the implementation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
On the crisis in Syria, Van Rompuy remarked: “The growing number of displaced people fleeing the crisis in Syria is a matter of great concern for both of us.”
“A significant number of them are finding temporary refuge in Lebanon. I welcome the efforts of the Lebanese authorities to provide assistance to these refugees, and I salute the generosity of the Lebanese people that provide shelter to those in need,” said the EU official.
During his visit, Miqati held talks with his Belgian counterpart Elio Di Rupo and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso among other EU officials.
27 April 2012, 14:38
14
There should be a media blitz notifying all expatriates to register. You spent so much money advertising all over the world for the tourist season, for Jeeta as wonder of the world etc..which is a good thing but the gov't needs a media campaign if they serious.
27 April 2012, 14:55
05
Finally! I was hoping to get a free airline ticket for 2013... {cynism}. Let's hope it won't be the fawda in our local embassies.
27 April 2012, 15:16
04
nice!
Me, my dad and Mum and sister will be voting ...my brother is too young to vote..
gonna be interesting!
27 April 2012, 15:42
05
I called the embassy in Paris, they asked me to call the lebanese consulate.... but surprisingly, the consulate never answers the phone...
27 April 2012, 15:44
02
I called the embassy in Paris, they asked me to call the lebanese consulate.... but surprisingly, the consulate never answers the phone...
28 April 2012, 11:05
00
the lebanese consulate should have a website and you can download and submit an 'overseas polling pack' this is available in some countries not sure about all countries though, although you would think it was a standard form. I found one on the australian (sydney) consulate website
http://www.lebconsyd.org.au/index2.htm
27 April 2012, 16:06
03
Niiiiiiice. Hope this happens. We will do everything to convince the exp. not to vote for the traditional politicians.
27 April 2012, 17:07
02
It is very difficult to register, because of the system and requirements in some consulates or Embassies is even harder, maybe on purpose to eliminate the numbers of voters.
27 April 2012, 17:17
03
I guess the Gulf monarchies (who paid 1 billion dollars in 2009) and the Iranian regime (who paid 250 million dollars in 2009) are not willing to pay for plane tickets for people to vote this time around. They have many other Arab countries to pay for votes like in Egypt and Tunisia. Foreign Money needs to banned in funding elections. In Lebanon, neither M14 or M8 represent the Lebanese people.
27 April 2012, 17:58
03
Well the issue will be for most expats that they dont have a "new" ikraj kayd (less than 5 years) and or a new i.d.
I called the embassy to register for voting and they told me you have to get it from lebabnon. Useless...
28 April 2012, 04:42
01
The consulate is normally two rooms, the window to drop the pictures for the passport and the consular office, I am trying visualize how will people vote at the embassy or consulate? let's use the technology and vote online as I do not wish to wait in line for hours and hours to get to the window.
28 April 2012, 08:03
00
It is Lebanon's sad fate to have PMs who fits in one of three categories:
1. toul bala ghalleh
2. imbecile
3. crook and thief and filthy schemer
and a president who is a clueless ignorant nobody and a typical opportunist a la Libanaise
28 April 2012, 08:13
22
Excellent - Here Comes 300,000 Australian Lebanese Christian Votes !!!
28 April 2012, 15:31
00
If someone gets registered by his Lebanese father does he automaticly receive Lebanese citizenship ? And if so could he vote afterwards ?
