Beirut: Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel warned Tuesday that efforts to block full voting rights for Lebanese expatriates are part of a broader political scheme aimed at suppressing dissenting voices within the Shiite community and preserving outdated power structures. Following a meeting with MP Mark Daou at the Kataeb Party’s headquarters in Saifi, Gemayel issued sharp criticism of the latest legislative session, from which opposition lawmakers withdrew after Speaker Nabih Berri declined to add a proposed draft law on diaspora voting to the agenda.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Gemayel stated, ‘Our goal was never to disrupt the session. There were important items up for discussion, and we wanted to attend, debate, and vote on what matters. But the way the expatriate voting issue was being manipulated left us no choice but to walk out.’ Gemayel said the campaign to restrict non-resident Lebanese from voting for all 128 parliamentary seats is being driven by fear of one specific group: Shiite expatriates.

Gemayel emphasized, ‘It is becoming increasingly clear that this fear stems from the belief that Shiite voters abroad would support the Lebanese state and the project of state-building. The attempt to cancel their vote is not about ensuring equality between Lebanese citizens, as some claim; it is about eliminating the impact of a Shiite voice abroad that could break the current monopoly and bring diversity into the Shiite community, just as we see in other sects.’ He accused opponents of using misleading rhetoric to mask their intentions.

Echoing Gemayel’s concerns, MP Mark Daou said his visit to the Kataeb headquarters was part of ongoing coordination with political allies on the growing crisis in Parliament and the battle for diaspora voting rights. ‘I came to discuss the developments in Parliament, especially the right of over 1.5 million Lebanese expatriates to vote,’ Daou said. ‘More than half the chamber is committed to this right and has signed a petition that will be formally submitted to the Speaker and the Bureau of Parliament.’

Daou blamed the recent legislative deadlocks on what he called a ‘sweeping commitment among MPs to ensure that the diaspora is treated fairly and allowed to vote based on their home districts for all 128 lawmakers, just like residents.’ He described the push for diaspora voting as a “decisive battle” that could reshape Lebanon’s political future.

Daou stressed that the battle is not limited to the electoral law. ‘The issues of exclusive state control over weapons, full political participation, and judicial independence are core to the Lebanon we want to build,’ he said. ‘These are essential fights for entering a new phase in Lebanon’s future.’