Lebanese living outside will vote

[BOILER]

Abou Sandal, it's not necessary for lebanese living abroad to have their own representatives.
Why should they?

[Diabolo_7]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

there go the free tickets

free tickets for what? they will be replaced by free knefe provided by Amirkani

[Abou Sandal]

Originally Posted by BOILER

Abou Sandal, it's not necessary for lebanese living abroad to have their own representatives.
Why should they?

I think that there should be a distinction between 3 categories of Lebanese living abroad.

1-Those who are not residing permanently abroad.

2-Those who are residing abroad since less than 4 years.(or 6 or whatever adequate period)

3-Those who are residing abroad since more than 4 years.

It is healthy and fair that the third category be represented by MP's,not only representing it as Lebanese citizens,but much specifically as the "diaspora" community that it is.

IMHO.

[BOILER]

Originally Posted by Abou Sandal

I think that there should be a distinction between 3 categories of Lebanese living abroad.

1-Those who are not residing permanently abroad.

2-Those who are residing abroad since less than 4 years.(or 6 or whatever adequate period)

3-Those who are residing abroad since more than 4 years.

It is healthy and fair that the third category be represented by one representing it,not only as Lebanese citizens,but much specifically as the "diaspora" community that it is.

IMHO.

Let me understand you well.
This representative you're talking about, will he be a certain candidate on a certain list in Lebanon?
Will he be living abroad for example?
Will he be among the 128 MPs?
What about a special ministry that could be a link between them and their country?
The way I see it, they should'nt vote differently than those living here.
This ministry could be the solution.

[fidelio]

Abu Sandal, i understand where you're coming from and i agree that in absolute terms, some candidates abroad will not be given the same chance as others which will definitely affect the electoral process and its fairness.
But i think that a compromise is necessary and that Lebanese expats should be given a chance to cast their votes even if it's not completely fair. It's their right afterall and the process can be fine tuned later on. I think we have a chance to do something good for a change and we should take it.

[Abou Sandal]

Originally Posted by BOILER

Let me understand you well.
This representative you're talking about, will he be a certain candidate on a certain list in Lebanon?
Will he be living abroad for example?
Will he be among the 128 MPs?
What about a special ministry that could be a link between them and their country?
The way I see it, they should'nt vote differently than those living here.
This ministry could be the solution.

Let me try to explain what i have in mind:

This representative will and should be one that is from the same electoral base,in order for him to carry their message and aspirations and demands and representation perfectly.

(It does not mean that he cannot be part of any Lebanese political party of course)

The reason is,that with time,the diaspora community develops a special social fabric,that has special needs and special demands.

Now,

Creating a ministry to address those needs and demands is not necessary,since we already have the foreign affairs ministry.We can just make it function as it should.

But this will never be enough and will never match a direct representation in parliament.

Because a good and active deputy would himself be a better person to represent them,and will probably be the best to carry their message,being himself one of them.

On the other hand and from a pure practical point,Lebanon has every interest to keep his diaspora in touch.

If you just give people the right to vote,without giving them a special seat,just for them,in time,they will be less and less to participate,especially that they cannot effectively feel the utility of their vote,since it is mixed with insiders vote,and it goes for someone that they mostly never saw,never knew,and will probably never see or know.

But if you give them their own seat...They will feel perfectly represented as full partners,fully sharing the assembly,and will probably feel much more closer,and much more in contact with Lebanon.

Which is the real goal that the whole process should be aiming for.

[Abou Sandal]

Originally Posted by fidelio

Abu Sandal, i understand where you're coming from and i agree that in absolute terms, some candidates abroad will not be given the same chance as others which will definitely affect the electoral process and its fairness.
But i think that a compromise is necessary and that Lebanese expats should be given a chance to cast their votes even if it's not completely fair. It's their right afterall and the process can be fine tuned later on. I think we have a chance to do something good for a change and we should take it.

Yes i fully agree,and i don't mind starting the process today,even if it will not be perfect as a start.

But the problem that i raised should be addressed as quick as possible.

Because if not...We would be having very disastrous effects,especially that we would be giving a signal to external powers that they could take up measures to influence the outcome of our elections.

Anyway,

On the legal front...I cannot be compromising as much as i could be on the political front.

I'm afraid that legally,there is no way out of it:If equal rights are not ensured,anyone could file for the nullity of the results...And he will most probably succeed.

[Amirkani]

Originally Posted by Abou Sandal

I think that there should be a distinction between 3 categories of Lebanese living abroad.

1-Those who are not residing permanently abroad.

2-Those who are residing abroad since less than 4 years.(or 6 or whatever adequate period)

3-Those who are residing abroad since more than 4 years.

It is healthy and fair that the third category be represented by MP's,not only representing it as Lebanese citizens,but much specifically as the "diaspora" community that it is.

IMHO.

Why complicate the issues?

Anyone holding a Lebanese citizenship is entitled by the constitution to vote.

Out of the millions of Lebanese expatriates, only a small percentage hold a Lebanese citizenship. Only those are entitled to vote.

There is nothing that can or should categorize or differentiate between those holding the Lebanese citizenship in terms of their voting rights.

They, whether inside or outside of Lebanon, vote for the same Caza candidates as they would have voted had they been living inside Lebanon, and according to the same electoral law.

It is the State's duty and job to make it possible and reasonably easy for them to cast their vote, inside and outside Lebanon. That's all.

The State has no other obligation to them as in giving them any "special" representation.

This is no different than while I am living outside my original place of residence in the USA, I can ask the elections authority in my original State to send me an "absentee ballot" so I can cast my vote from wherever I happen to be living, inside or outside the USA.

If there is a will to make it happen, it's not prohibitively difficult to make it happen in 2009.

--------------------

[TripolySunni]

AND Who is Gonna Monitor these Elections??? How do The Lebanese Parties Know that elections in a certain country were not Rigged?? As far as i know Each Leb Party or Movmnt Wants to Monior the Integrety Of these Elections closely BUT some cannot Send Their Groups Outside lebanon, Besides You want the LEBS in Saudi OR SYria TO VOTE in those ANTI-Democratic Countries and get fair results.

[BOILER]

You're forgetting something here.
They are already found '' 3a lawayi7 elshatib'' but the majority don't come and vote.