The Lebanese Private Sector Network’s Position On the Diaspora Vote

Equal Voting Rights for Lebanon’s Diaspora – A Call for Justice and National Interest

Introduction

Lebanon’s diaspora is one of the nation’s greatest economic lifelines. They sustain families, communities, and businesses through billions in remittances—even after having lost their savings in Lebanese banks. They also support government initiatives through their lobbying clout.

Their unwavering contributions are not just an essential lifeline for Lebanon—they also entitle the hardworking Lebanese living abroad to full and equal citizenship rights. Denying them the right to vote equally is both discriminatory and shortsighted.

The Legal Trap: Section 112

Section 112 of the electoral law stipulates that the diaspora may only elect one “continental” MP instead of electing MPs from their district of registration. In reality, this represents regression and disenfranchisement:

• Regression: In 2018 and 2022, Parliament suspended this clause to preserve the constitutional right of all Lebanese citizens to equal voting.

• Disenfranchisement: This provision creates a process of nomination, not a true election.

Why It Is Discriminatory

“Forcing the diaspora to vote for continental MPs” is discriminatory because:

• The Lebanese electoral system is based on civil registration by district inside Lebanon. There is no civil registry abroad.

• Within Lebanon, citizens must vote in their district of origin—not in their place of residence.

• Continental districts are artificial and deny members of the diaspora equality before the law.

Why It Is Shortsighted

Continental representation is not only discriminatory, it is also shortsighted:

• No candidate can realistically campaign across an entire continent.

• Diaspora voters cannot relate to candidates from countries or states other than their own.

• With dozens of countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, the provision is impractical and nonsensical.

• The practical effect is dissuasion: discouraging the diaspora from participating at all.

No ‘Economic Contribution’ Without Representation

A fundamental democratic principle is clear: no taxation without representation.

• Diaspora remittances amount to billions of USD annually—a substantial share of Lebanon’s GDP.

• These flows substitute for absent state services and sustain families and businesses.

• They serve redistributive functions similar to taxation, in addition to the taxes diaspora members already pay abroad.

Therefore, the diaspora must enjoy the same quality of representation as residents, by virtue of their essential contributions to Lebanon’s economy.

Moreover, fairly engaging the diaspora in Lebanon’s democratic process will encourage their role in attracting foreign direct investment—especially as remittances inevitably decline once the economy begins to recover.

Our Position

The Lebanese Private Sector Network (LPSN) asserts that:

• Diaspora voters must retain the right to elect all 128 MPs according to their district of registration, as was the case in 2018 and 2022.

• Voting abroad in countries of residence must not only be allowed but actively encouraged, as a way of engaging the diaspora in investment and economic recovery.

• Parliament must urgently put to vote the bill already submitted and backed by 65 MPs.

Conclusion

The diaspora has never turned its back on Lebanon. To deny them their rights now would sever one of the last lifelines sustaining our country.

The way forward is clear: justice, fairness, and national interest.