Geagea: We are obliged to grant Lebanese expatriates a vote

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea held a press conference following the Parliament session to discuss legislation. “Unfortunately, the initiative to lower the voting age in the parliament did not pass today. In essence, we are with lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 [for the June municipal elections], but we are also obliged to grant the Lebanese living abroad the right to vote [from their countries of residence]. If anyone wants to postpone the municipal elections, let them say it clearly. The cabinet discussed Baroud’s proposed reforms for the municipal law, and some suggestions passed while others didn’t. The cabinet agreed that Baroud would draft a proposal for the municipal law, but we were surprised to hear that the municipal elections cannot take place without having reforms added. It as if the cabinet did not spend hours deliberating on reforms. Manipulating with constitutional dates must not happen, or else it would show that President [Michel Sleiman] and the cabinet have failed in the beginning of their tenure.”