Frem in Washington Calls for Massive Voter Registration Among Expatriates in Defense of Their Right to Vote

Frem in Washington Calls for Massive Voter Registration Among Expatriates in Defense of Their Right to Vote

At the invitation of Dr. Claude Karam and his wife, Pascale, a dinner was held in honor of MP Neemat Frem in Washington.

The gathering brought together more than seventy members of the Lebanese community in the U.S. capital and featured an in-depth discussion on the current situation in Lebanon and the wider region.

Frem reviewed the path that led the country to its present state over the past decade and emphasized the importance of the coming phase and the collective awareness and responsibility it requires – particularly from Lebanese expatriates.

The lawmaker stressed that the upcoming electoral law must strengthen the national role of the Lebanese diaspora, which he described as “the conscience of the nation and its vigilant eye from afar.” He then called on all expatriates to register in large numbers for the next elections, warning of the imminent danger posed by attempts to eliminate polling stations abroad under the pretext of low registration rates.

He explained that such a move, if it were to occur, “would be a major catastrophe, as it would deprive the Lebanese diaspora of its natural right to participate in shaping national decision-making and would strip the democratic process of one of its main pillars.”

Frem urged expatriates to shoulder their historic responsibility by registering where they currently reside, thereby blocking any pretext for transferring polling centers from abroad back to Lebanon. “The awareness of the diaspora today is the primary guarantee for the continuation of the national rescue path,” he affirmed.

He concluded: “Just as Lebanese expatriates played a vital economic role in supporting Lebanon through its most difficult times, their role in the upcoming elections is no less important. The new Parliament must provide greater – and not lesser – representation for the diaspora than the current one.”