News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
28
o
Bekaa
30
o
Keserwan
29
o
Metn
29
o
Mount Lebanon
28
o
North
29
o
South
28
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Live Coverage
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
28
o
Bekaa
30
o
Keserwan
29
o
Metn
29
o
Mount Lebanon
28
o
North
29
o
South
28
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
Sports
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
From six seats to full power: New law could reverse limit on expat voting in Lebanon's 2026 elections
News Bulletin Reports
15-05-2025 | 13:08
High views
Share
Share
3
min
From six seats to full power: New law could reverse limit on expat voting in Lebanon's 2026 elections
Report by Maroun Nassif, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi
A group of Lebanese MPs from various political blocs introduced a draft law to amend the country's electoral legislation to preserve the full voting rights of Lebanese expatriates in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
The proposal aims to allow expats to vote for candidates in their home electoral districts in Lebanon, rather than restrict them to electing only six MPs representing the diaspora across six continents, as Law 44/2017 outlines.
The proposed amendment, submitted by a group of independent and Change MPs alongside lawmakers from the Lebanese Forces, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), and the Tashnag party, seeks to modify some articles related to non-resident voting and eliminate others.
A total of 54 MPs have publicly declared their support for the initiative.
However, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) opposes the proposal, with its leader MP Gebran Bassil advocating for the original plan that grants six exclusive seats to expatriate MPs. Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have yet to state their position on the matter.
The impact of expat voting in the 2022 elections is central to the debate.
According to a study by Information International, the 141,575 diaspora votes cast in 2022 played a decisive role in shaping outcomes in 13 parliamentary seats across eight districts. The study suggests that several key results would have been different without the expatriate vote.
In Beirut I, the Lebanese Forces candidate Elie Charbachi would have secured the minorities seat instead of Cynthia Zarazir. In Beirut II, Zeina Mounzer would have won the Druze seat from Democratic Gathering bloc MP Faisal Al Sayegh, while Khaled Kabbani would have defeated MP Waddah Sadek for the Sunni seat.
In Tripoli, Faisal Karami would have replaced MP Ramy Finge, whose victory was later contested, and Bader Eid would have taken the Alawite seat from Firas Salloum, also subject to appeal.
In Zgharta, MP Michel Douaihy, backed by Change MPs, would have lost to Marada's Jawad Boulos. Similarly, in Koura, Marada candidate Fadi Ghosn would have replaced MP Adib Abdel Massih.
In Zahle, Lebanese Forces MP Bilal Houshaymi benefited from the expat vote, which otherwise would have delivered a victory to a Sunni seat, Omar Halablab from MP Michel Daher's list.
In West Bekaa-Rachaiya, MP Ghassan Skaff's win would have gone to former Deputy Speaker Elie Ferzli, backed by the Amal-Hezbollah duo.
Change MP Yassine Yassine would have lost to Mohammad Qaraawi, and in Jezzine, Amal candidate Ibrahim Azar would have replaced MP Charbel Massaad.
In the South III district, Marwan Kheireddine would have secured a seat instead of MP Firas Hamdan.
Despite being submitted as an urgent draft law, the proposed amendment was not added to Thursday's parliamentary session agenda, as the schedule was finalized the previous week and the draft was introduced on Friday.
Lebanon News
News Bulletin Reports
Seats
Power
Law
Expat
Voting
Lebanon
Elections
Next
Ceasefire or escalation? Trump’s peace plan meets Israeli resistance
With Syria hopping on the 'train of opportunities,' can Lebanon secure its place in a changing Middle East?
Previous
Related Articles
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-24
Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam: Government to begin preparations for 2026 parliamentary elections
Lebanon News
2025-05-24
Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam: Government to begin preparations for 2026 parliamentary elections
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-04-18
Power balance at risk: Could sectarian parity collapse in Beirut's municipal elections?
News Bulletin Reports
2025-04-18
Power balance at risk: Could sectarian parity collapse in Beirut's municipal elections?
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-13
Lebanon's Nabih Berri: Municipal elections law amendment unlikely, urges on-time elections
Lebanon News
2025-04-13
Lebanon's Nabih Berri: Municipal elections law amendment unlikely, urges on-time elections
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Diaspora delegation urges equal voting rights for Lebanese expats in 2026 elections
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Diaspora delegation urges equal voting rights for Lebanese expats in 2026 elections
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:28
Terror returns? Damascus church bombing sparks Lebanese probe into ISIS ties
News Bulletin Reports
13:28
Terror returns? Damascus church bombing sparks Lebanese probe into ISIS ties
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:27
From chaos to calm: how markets rode out the Iran-Israel war
News Bulletin Reports
13:27
From chaos to calm: how markets rode out the Iran-Israel war
0
News Bulletin Reports
12:54
Post-ceasefire strategy on Iran top of agenda in Netanyahu-Trump talks — What’s next?
News Bulletin Reports
12:54
Post-ceasefire strategy on Iran top of agenda in Netanyahu-Trump talks — What’s next?
0
News Bulletin Reports
12:48
Two wars, no winners: A year later, inside Israel’s battles on the Lebanon and Iran fronts
News Bulletin Reports
12:48
Two wars, no winners: A year later, inside Israel’s battles on the Lebanon and Iran fronts
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
World News
10:22
Ukraine, Russia exchange another group of POWs
World News
10:22
Ukraine, Russia exchange another group of POWs
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Diaspora delegation urges equal voting rights for Lebanese expats in 2026 elections
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Diaspora delegation urges equal voting rights for Lebanese expats in 2026 elections
0
Lebanon News
08:09
Explosion of weapons-laden pickup sparks fire in Hermel outskirts
Lebanon News
08:09
Explosion of weapons-laden pickup sparks fire in Hermel outskirts
0
Lebanon News
15:47
Syrian national arrested in Keserwan over suspected ISIS-linked training
Lebanon News
15:47
Syrian national arrested in Keserwan over suspected ISIS-linked training
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-10
Clash between Lebanese Army and residents of Deir Qanoun Al Nahr results in injuries (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-06-10
Clash between Lebanese Army and residents of Deir Qanoun Al Nahr results in injuries (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Mexico dedicates garden around Lebanese Emigrant Statue in Beirut to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Mexico dedicates garden around Lebanese Emigrant Statue in Beirut to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-19
President Aoun to seek Egyptian support for Lebanese Army in detecting explosives and tunnels
Lebanon News
2025-05-19
President Aoun to seek Egyptian support for Lebanese Army in detecting explosives and tunnels
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-15
LBCI Exclusive: US steps up pressure on Hezbollah, Morgan Ortagus details sanctions and vision for Lebanon's future
Lebanon News
2025-05-15
LBCI Exclusive: US steps up pressure on Hezbollah, Morgan Ortagus details sanctions and vision for Lebanon's future
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-08
Morgan Ortagus urges Lebanon to pass banking reforms to restore financial trust
Lebanon News
2025-04-08
Morgan Ortagus urges Lebanon to pass banking reforms to restore financial trust
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
News Bulletin Reports
13:28
Terror returns? Damascus church bombing sparks Lebanese probe into ISIS ties
News Bulletin Reports
13:28
Terror returns? Damascus church bombing sparks Lebanese probe into ISIS ties
2
Lebanon News
15:47
Syrian national arrested in Keserwan over suspected ISIS-linked training
Lebanon News
15:47
Syrian national arrested in Keserwan over suspected ISIS-linked training
3
Lebanon News
11:02
Elon Musk expresses interest in Lebanon’s telecom sector during call with President Aoun
Lebanon News
11:02
Elon Musk expresses interest in Lebanon’s telecom sector during call with President Aoun
4
News Bulletin Reports
12:48
Two wars, no winners: A year later, inside Israel’s battles on the Lebanon and Iran fronts
News Bulletin Reports
12:48
Two wars, no winners: A year later, inside Israel’s battles on the Lebanon and Iran fronts
5
Lebanon News
08:09
Explosion of weapons-laden pickup sparks fire in Hermel outskirts
Lebanon News
08:09
Explosion of weapons-laden pickup sparks fire in Hermel outskirts
6
Lebanon News
10:20
Walid Jumblatt says Progressive Socialist Party handed over its weapons, urges others to follow
Lebanon News
10:20
Walid Jumblatt says Progressive Socialist Party handed over its weapons, urges others to follow
7
Lebanon News
08:00
Israeli army claims killing Radwan Force and surveillance unit commanders in South Lebanon
Lebanon News
08:00
Israeli army claims killing Radwan Force and surveillance unit commanders in South Lebanon
8
Middle East News
06:34
Iran's Khamenei hails 'victory' in first remarks since Israel truce
Middle East News
06:34
Iran's Khamenei hails 'victory' in first remarks since Israel truce
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More