Lebanese Diaspora Meets with PM Salam on Voting Law: Promising Progress, But Work Remains
June 10, 2025
“Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with a delegation of 13 members of the Lebanese diaspora at the Grand Palace last week, including myself, to discuss a pressing matter before the parliament at present – “”whether to amend electoral law 44/2017 to allow the diaspora to vote for the 128 Members of Parliament according to their local district””.
PM Salam responded thoughtfully to the presentation by members of the diaspora who outlined the work of the group to secure the endorsement of the widest number of MPs to the law. His clear advice to us was “”to continue to shore up more votes amongst the 128 MPs”” to ensure it is passed by Parliament. He stated he would call for an emergency session of parliament so that the law could be discussed before the autumn session of parliament resumes in October to avoid delays.
So far, Change MPs, the Lebanese Forces Party, Kataeb Party, Progressive Socialist Party, Moderation bloc, and other independent MPs have expressed support, however, the Free Patriotic Movement, Amal and Hezbollah parties have so far expressed they are against the proposed amendments. More consultations are underway with these parties by the diaspora to convince them of the importance of passing this amendment.
During the meeting the Prime Minster praised the fact that the initiative was a collaborative effort, joining diaspora voices and forces for Lebanon to demonstrate the united stance of the expats on this issue.
The groups represented at the meeting included:
1.Celibal @libanizar
2. @_change_lebanon_
3. @CollectiflibanaisdeFrance
4. @Lebanesediasporaoverseas
5. Forum Libanais en Europe
6. Global Lebanese Alliance
7. @KullunaIrada
8. @Lebaneseexecutivescouncil
9. @Lebaneseexpatriatemovement
10. Lebanese National Alliance
11. Meghtebrin Mejtemiin
12. Mouvement des Citoyens Libanais du Monde
13. @Ournewlebanon
14. @Sawti
15. @teamhope_lebanon
16. @thelebanesediasporanetwork
17. World Lebanese Cultural Union
#freeandfairlebanon #righttovote #freelebanon
English Script:
Daizy Gedeon: Lebanese diaspora members walking in for a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. This is a very important event, particularly considering where we’re at with diaspora vote and we’re putting our case to him today on behalf of the Lebanese diaspora. Just waiting to go in to see Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to speak to him and put forward the case for the law, the diaspora law to vote for the 128 MPs at the next parliamentary elections and for all future elections. This is a very important moment for members of the diaspora who have been able to secure a meeting with Nawaf Salam and I’ll just show you around the room a little bit as we walk in. There’s a few select members Lima Salloum from TeamHope, members of TLDM, members of Change Lebanon, members of LEM from Detroit, members from all over the world, today gathering at the Grand Palace in Beirut. So we’ve just finished our meeting with the Prime Minister. Ali, can you tell us as a member of the Lebanese diaspora representing, you’re representing…
Ali: Lebanese National Alliance.
Daizy Gedeon: The Lebanese National Alliance, how do you think that meeting went?
Ali: It went well actually. We imposed our idea, request and I think he agrees with us. He agreed with us. But it’s all in Berri’s hand now. So the next step would be to push more other MPs to increase the number to more than 60…
Daizy Gedeon: 70.
Ali: 70 members. I believe, I did a poll for Beirut in North America and all of them, like 80%, are with us to vote for the 128 MPs.
Daizy Gedeon: The reality is it’s not in the Prime Minister’s hands. It’s in the hands of the members of parliament, but he’s very supportive of this bill and has given us advice on how to push it forward. So, God willing we will do our work on the ground and with members of parliament here, all the groups that were in attendance and more diaspora groups so that the Lebanese diaspora gets to vote for the 128 MPs in 2026.
Ali: Thank you.
Daizy Gedeon: Thank you.
