BEIRUT – Thousands of Lebanese living in Arab and Muslim countries began voting Friday in the country´s parliamentary elections, nine days before the vote is scheduled to be held at home, AP reported.
About 31,000 Lebanese citizens in 10 countries have registered to vote in Friday’s first phase. On Sunday, nearly 195,000 Lebanese citizens are scheduled to vote in other countries around the world including the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, European Union members states, as well as several African nations.
It is the first time that Lebanon’s diaspora is allowed to take part in the vote, as they were previously prohibited from voting abroad. Lebanese living in Lebanon will cast their ballots on May 15.
The vote this year for the 128-mebmer legislature is the first since the country´s economic meltdown began in October 2019, triggering nationwide protests against Lebanon´s political class blamed for decades of corruption and mismanagement. It is also the first vote since the Aug. 4, 2020 massive blast at Beirut´s port that killed more than 200, injured thousands and caused wide damage in the capital.
Some voting abroad on Friday and Sunday are from the thousands who left Lebanon since those catastrophic events.
Many political opposition activists are running in the election, hoping to challenge mainstream parties and political figures who have held on to their seats for decades. But the opposition is fractured and many fear the vote holds little hope for change.
