A Lebanese expatriate in Saudi Arabia shows her ink-stained thumb after voting in Riyadh on May 6, 2022, as part of the Lebanese parliamentary elections. (Credit: Fayez Nureldine/AFP)
The Maronite League on Wednesday called for allowing Lebanese expatriates to vote for all 128 members of Parliament in the upcoming 2026 legislative elections, rejecting the current proposal to reserve six seats for the diaspora.
In a statement following a meeting on the electoral law, the League aligned itself with Bkirki's position, which has similarly opposed the creation of a separate six-seat constituency for Lebanese abroad. “It is the right of every Lebanese emigrant to vote in their place of registration in Lebanon, just like residents,” the League said. “Creating six seats for the diaspora on the six continents infringes on the principle of equality among all citizens.”
The current electoral law limits expatriate voting to six dedicated parliamentary seats. A draft amendment proposes granting them the right to vote for the full 128-member Parliament — the same as voters residing in Lebanon. However, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri last week refused to include the proposal on the legislative agenda, drawing heavy criticism.
The six-seat diaspora proposal is backed by the Amal Movement, Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
“Voting in their home constituencies enables expatriates to have a meaningful political presence and hold all lawmakers accountable, rather than just six MPs based on geographical divisions that do not reflect their real affiliations,” the Maronite League said. “Any approach that limits these rights is unconstitutional.”
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