President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday that Lebanese expatriates have the right to vote in the 2013 parliamentary elections, lamenting the fact that the state has not done enough for them. He wondered: “Isn't the parliamentary electoral law a cornerstone of the democratic system? Don't the expatriates have the right to vote?” The president made his remarks during a Jbeil ceremony urging expatriates to take part in next year's elections.

“How can we ask so much from the expatriates without giving them anything back in return?” he asked. “Is it possible that at the time of globalization that the expatriates are not granted the right to vote in the parliamentary elections?” continued Suleiman. [Link]