Opposition Walks Out, Parliament Moves On... What Comes Next?

LF sources: The confrontation has begun, expatriates' electoral rights are non-negotiable

English version based on the Arabic-language article published by Akhbar al-Yawm

Lawmakers from the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb, and several independents staged a walkout from Parliament after Speaker Nabih Berri refused to include a draft law granting full voting rights to Lebanese expatriates on the legislative agenda. Despite their departure, the session went ahead over two days and resulted in the passage of several bills.

But questions remain over whether the protest delivered a real message or was simply symbolic.

Sources within the Lebanese Forces told the "Akhbar al-Yawm" agency that the walkout was a deliberate political signal, a declaration that the battle to secure full electoral rights for the diaspora had officially begun. They described the attempt to limit expats to six designated seats as a "red line" that could not be crossed.

"The fight is just getting started", the sources said. "What happened in Parliament was only the first step".

The same sources accused Hezbollah, Amal, and the Free Patriotic Movement of trying to block expats from voting for all 128 members of Parliament, claiming these parties fear the overseas vote would tilt the political balance against them, both in Christian and Shiite representation.

By contrast, the Lebanese Forces argue that expats have the right to vote for all 128 MPs, not just the six seats currently allocated for the diaspora.

"This isn’t just a technical issue", the sources added. "It’s about principle, the right of every Lebanese citizen, wherever they live, to help shape their country's future".

The party warned that sidelining the diaspora echoes outdated political practices from Lebanon’s past, particularly during the Syrian era, and stressed that such maneuvering would no longer go unchallenged.

"We’re in a new phase. There’s no more room to play games with constitutional rights or national representation". the sources said.

They concluded by affirming that the diaspora must remain an inseparable part of the country, not just geographically, but politically and institutionally as well.