REPORT: Parliamentary elections in light of emigrants’ participation

By the end of this year is the deadline for Lebanese abroad to register in order to participate in the coming parliamentary elections and according to the law, each embassy or consulate whereby more than 200 persons are registered, a polling station will be opened in it.        


In this context, Canada, France and Oman have exceeded the desired number whereas Sierra Leone, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and the US have become close to 200.                  


According to available information, the number of registered persons did not reach yet 1% of almost 1 million Lebanese nationals living abroad and registered on the electoral checklists.                           

Was the announcement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling on citizens to register their names to participate in the elections not enough or political parties did not encourage their supporters to register themselves?                    

In this context, Director of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Election Yara Nassar said to LBCI that the ministries of Interior and Foreign affairs did not take serious measures regarding the voting of emigrants.                


Nassar added that across the name of every registered emigrant “registered abroad” will be written on the checklists.