LEC Lebanese Executives Council: Speaking Truth to Power on Lebanese Diaspora’s Right to Vote for 128 MPs
June 5, 2025The @lebanese_executives_council hosted an important event in Beirut on Tuesday to draw attention to the critical role of the 16 million plus Lebanese diaspora who have been the backbone of the economy for decades. While the event focused on the theme of Smart Government and the role of technology, AI, and digitising the government to ensure rapid development, change and growth, what I found was lacking in the discussions was the fundamental issue that the vast majority of the diaspora are calling for – an amendment to electoral law Law 44/2017, giving the diaspora the right to vote for the 128 Members of Parliament according to where they originate from in Lebanon.
As the law stands right now, the votes of the disapora would be used to elect six additional MPs to the parliament. These six MPs would be elected to represent six different continents around the world but would have no relation to the areas where members of the diaspora come from in Lebanon. It makes no sense.
So I posed the question to an esteemed panel including Ministers, experts and officials in front of an audience filled with law makers and powerful individuals demanding that the legislation be amended according to a bill put forward by a group of MPs to the parliament in mid May, allowing the Lebanese diaspora to vote for the 128 Members of Parliament at the next and all future Parliamentary elections so that our voices would not and never be marginalised.
The question duly resonated with the audience and panel as you can see in this video.
As a proud member of the Lebanese diaspora, working with groups both inside the country and around the world to ensure this amendment passes into law prior to the 2026 parliamentary elections, I call on President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and all Lebanese MPs, to ensure that this bill passes especially if you expect the diaspora to continue to underwrite the economy to the tune of 40% of GDP and want us to invest our hard earned money in the economy to support its revival.
English Script:
Daizy: Thank you very much. I know most of this panel and I’ve been listening to the comments today, all very exciting and I’ve listened to Dr. Kamal many times and I think it’s very inspiring. But this is a conference about diaspora. This is a conference about what Mr. Jad Bitar mentioned earlier. I want to back what he said but take it a bit further that you need to engage the Lebanese diaspora. The first and most foremost thing that the Lebanese government must do is support the right of the diaspora to vote for the 128 members of Parliament. If you want our money, if you want support, if you want knowledge and expertise and engagement, we deserve the right to vote for 128 members of Parliament. Amendment in the law today that has been presented by members of parliament, including the many parties and that needs to be prioritized and a special convening of the parliament must happen immediately and the President and Prime Minister who will come join us later must convene that and that should be first and foremost on the business of the government.
President Joseph Aoun: I come to you today with one request: that we work together, immediately, so that numbers are no longer just a matter of opinion, and so that digitization in Lebanon becomes an act of foresight, for the benefit of all people. It is an initiative by diaspora experts to build a smart government in Lebanon. We already have the initiative. We have the experts. We’ve had governments for decades. We have an intelligence that the entire world recognizes. All we’ve been missing is a decision, and I am here today to say to you: we have made that decision. What do we want from a smart government? Simply put, we want dignified service for every citizen, regardless of their name, sect, political affiliation, or connections. Today, we ask only to be your partners in building a digital Lebanese republic. We want Lebanon to open up to regional and international companies, and to become a credible destination for foreign investment. And I say this while standing before hundreds of Lebanese who have already achieved this vision in countries around the world. The time has come for them to achieve it for their homeland, and in their homeland. It’s time for action, not just talk. And digital transformation is not just a technical option, it is a sovereign decision to build a better future. Lebanon deserves this, and its people deserve it. Let us build the digital republic together. Long live Lebanon, and long live its people.
PM Nawaf Salam: Lebanon possesses the capabilities and expertise, both at home and across the diaspora, that qualify it to move forward on the path of comprehensive digital transformation. We have the will, we have the talent, and we have the partners, what we lack is swift and coordinated implementation. Digital transformation in Lebanon is not a luxury but a necessity. It is a reform that directly benefits the Lebanese people. It saves time, reduces corruption, and improves the quality of services. We are determined to be part of the regional and global digital economy and to reconnect Lebanon to the knowledge and production networks of the 21st century. We have much work ahead of us, but we also have the tools and the partners. So, let’s begin now, and thank you all.
