MP Strida Geagea stated that the right of Lebanese living abroad to vote for all 128 seats in the Parliament is one of the simplest citizenship rights.

During her chairing of the administrative meeting of the “Jabal Al-Arz Foundation” in Maarab, MP Strida Geagea emphasized the pivotal national role played by Lebanese residing abroad in supporting their country politically, socially, and economically. She called for adopting the term “Lebanese residing abroad” instead of “expatriates,” as they “have proven they are never estranged from their homeland.”

She considered it unacceptable that a Lebanese citizen living outside Lebanon is treated as a second-class citizen, asked to extend help to residents in the homeland during crises but deprived of the right to participate in national life, decision-making, and determining their country’s fate.

She affirmed that “Lebanese abroad have proven during the harsh recent years — years of financial, monetary, and economic crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, disasters including the Beirut port explosion, and humiliating queues at fuel stations and hospitals — that they are the true backbone of Lebanon. They stood by their families in the homeland, supported family resilience, and funded developmental, educational, health, social, and humanitarian initiatives in villages and towns without hesitation.

Moreover, in many places, they took the state’s place in paying fees and expenses that the state should have covered, from public sector salaries to waste collection costs and more. Those who preserved the dignity of Lebanese and Lebanon are not rewarded by being excluded from national life, because just as we want them partners in belonging, education, health, and social and humanitarian initiatives, it is our duty to make them partners in decision-making and in shaping the future.”

She reiterated that the right of Lebanese abroad to vote for all 128 parliamentary seats is one of the simplest citizenship rights.

She stressed that “this right cannot be treated as a subject for bargaining or political whims. Citizenship is indivisible, and parliamentary representation must include every Lebanese, wherever they are, under the umbrella of full constitutional equality. Any attempt to marginalize Lebanese abroad or limit their representation to six symbolic parliamentary seats is a blatant violation of the principle of equality among Lebanese enshrined in the constitution.

Therefore, we reject any procrastination or delay on this issue and will continue to pressure by all available democratic means to cancel Article 112 of the election law and related provisions, and to establish the full right of Lebanese abroad to vote for all 128 deputies.”

She concluded emphatically that “Lebanon can only be built with both its wings, those residing inside and those residing abroad.”