Pressure amounts as Lebanese diaspora electoral registration rate remain timid

On October 2, 2025, The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (MOFA) officially opened the door for Lebanese diaspora registration for the 2026 parliamentary elections. As for the deadline, it is set to expire on November 20, 2025 (however there are talks about a project being prepared within the corridors of the Grand Serail and relevant ministries to extend the registration deadline). Although much time is left, expatriates’ registration rate till today remains minimal.

Low registration rate

Two main reasons may be attributed towards this “apathy” or “detachment” that the Lebanese diaspora might be witnessing regarding the upcoming elections.

The first is related to the 2017 electoral law itself. The latter, also known as Law 44/2017, reformed the country’s parliamentary election system by introducing proportional representation and preferential voting, thus replacing the controversial 1960 majoritarian system. More importantly, it allowed expatriates for the first time to be actively engaged in the elections by granting them the right to vote – as mentioned in Article 111: “It is the right of every Lebanese citizen not on Lebanese soil to exercise their right to vote.” However, the law’s provisions for voting by Lebanese expatriates have been considerably contentious. This is particularly true with regards to Article 112 which designated only 6 “overseas” parliamentary seats for the diaspora (divided equally between Christians and Muslims) to represent Lebanese abroad. Despite the fact that the country’s officials and political parties previously agreed to amend this article and allow the diaspora to vote for all 128 members of parliament (MPs) in 2018 and 2022, this year no such consensus seems available. Two rival camps have been endorsing competing agendas: applying the electoral law as it is by designating the 6 aforementioned seats for the diaspora (which Hezbollah, Amal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement are advocating for) against amending and even canceling Article 112 and applying the same mechanism as during the previous two elections (which the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb, Progressive Socialist Party and various independent MPs support). In this regard, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berry has refrained from including the matter on the parliament’s agenda, sparking outrage amongst several MPs. Berry’s actions reflect his firm stance against amending the article, expressing that “the law is the same for me, no more, no less. I will not change my mind and I will not budge.” Within this uncertainty, as well as the mechanism for creating and allocating those seats left vague, expatriates seem to be reluctant to register abroad until the picture becomes much clearer, in order to avoid having their names removed from the electoral rolls in Lebanon.

The second is related to expatriates’ dissatisfaction and frustration with the performance of the “forces of change MPs” The bulk of the diaspora’s votes in the previous 2022 elections went primarily for these MPs, surpassing that of traditional political parties. However, much criticism has been made regarding the representatives’ legislative and political performance during these 4 years, which signaled a decline in support both at home and abroad. Many presume that the “forces of change” will not be able to win the same amount of seats as in 2022, which proves expatriates’ stance towards this bloc as well.

Pressure to involve the diaspora in the election of all 128 MPs

MPs in favor of allowing expatriates to vote for all 128 representatives in Lebanon have not yielded yet. They are continuing to search for ways to apply effective pressure and achieve their intended goal of preserving the rights of Lebanese abroad. MP George Okais, a member of the Lebanese Forces “Strong Republic” bloc, said that “a delegation from the parliamentary blocs that form the majority in Parliament is preparing to visit President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to emphasize the importance of expatriate participation and to convey the loud voice of expatriates seeking to elect 128 representatives. They are also to ask them to join us in this battle because their presence at its heart and their leadership of it is essential.” However, should their appeal and advocacy fail to materialize, Okais revealed that “they will be surprised by the large number of diaspora members who will come to Lebanon to participate in the electoral process in retaliation for this line and this practice.”

Time is still available for parliament to amend Article 112 and preserve the ability of the Lebanese diaspora to exercise their fundamental rights. Likewise, as in previous elections, diaspora registration can still witness a significant turnout in the last 2 weeks before the constitutional deadline for registration closes. Hence, the next 37 days will prove to be crucial and critical regarding the pending fate of expatriate voting which will not only impact their own right to be fully engaged in their homeland, but will also shape Lebanon’s future political identity with the upcoming general elections.