Christian Front in Lebanon defends expatriates’ right to full electoral participation

ACHRAFIEH / BEIRUT — The Christian Front in Lebanon has issued a firm condemnation of the Lebanese election law only allowing expatriates to vote for six Lebanese parliament seats instead of all 128, arguing that such a measure undermines expatriates’ sovereign right to vote in their original electoral districts within Lebanon. 

The Front’s statement followed the group’s regular meeting held at its headquarters in Achrafieh, where members expressed concern over what they described as an orchestrated effort to marginalize the national presence of expatriates — particularly Christian ones — by confining their electoral participation to limited, symbolic representation. The proposal, the group argued, risks isolating expatriate communities abroad and stripping them of their essential right to meaningfully influence Lebanon’s national decision-making processes. 

The Christian Front also denounced yesterday’s decision by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to exclude a proposed amendment to the election law — reportedly endorsed by a parliamentary majority — from the agenda of the parliamentary session. The Front described the move as unconstitutional and politically targeted, viewing it as a direct affront to a significant segment of the Lebanese population. 

In a broader critique, the statement condemned what it referred to as the resurgence of repressive tactics, citing recent summoning of journalists by security agencies as part of an emerging trend to muzzle dissent and curtail press freedoms. The group warned that Lebanon appears to be sliding back toward a period marked by state overreach and suppression of civil liberties. 

The Christian Front further accused the Lebanese government of chronic negligence in implementing international resolutions, particularly those mandating the disarmament of Hezbollah — the Iran-backed militia that remains a dominant force in Lebanese politics. 

Concluding its statement, the group urged both the government and parliament to shoulder their national responsibilities and to embark without delay on a path toward comprehensive peace with the Arab and international community. Such a course, the group argued, is not only a strategic necessity but also a safeguard for the unity, dignity, and future of the Lebanese nation.