Beirut: Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, on Monday wrote on X platform addressing House Speaker, Nabih Berri: ‘Mr. Speaker, you cannot reduce Parliament to yourself. Your statement that ‘we tried expatriate voting once and for the last time, and it will never happen again no matter the outcry,’ undermines Parliament, the parliamentary system, the Lebanese system, and democracy as a whole. Perhaps no one has told you this in the past forty years, but I will today: decisions in Parliament are made by the parliamentary majority, not by you, nor by any single individual, with all due respect. It’s either the Constitution, the law, and the system, or the law of the jungle. And we will no longer accept the law of the jungle. Respectfully, Mr. Speaker.’
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Geagea’s statement highlights growing tensions over the issue of expatriate voting in Lebanon. The debate underscores a larger conversation about the democratic process and the role of parliamentary authority in the country’s political framework. Geagea’s message reflects a significant challenge to Berri’s recent pronouncement regarding voting rights for Lebanese citizens living abroad.
The discourse over expatriate voting has gained prominence in Lebanon, with many political figures voicing their opinions on the matter. Geagea’s stance signifies a push for adherence to constitutional principles and majority rule within the parliamentary system. This development comes amid ongoing discussions about electoral reforms and the representation of Lebanese citizens, both domestically and internationally.