Lebanese diaspora to cast overseas ballots from Friday

Voters in the UAE will head to the polls on Monday

The increase in voter registrations has been attributed to efforts by civil society groups to encourage the diaspora to take part in the election. AFP

Lebanese registered to vote abroad will go to the polls from Friday ahead of Lebanon’s parliamentary election, which is scheduled for May 15.

The Lebanese diaspora in 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar, will cast their vote at polling stations in embassies and other locations on Friday.

A second round of voting will be held on Sunday in another 49 countries, including the UAE, that have Sunday as a weekend.

In the UAE, Lebanese can cast their vote at the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai from 7am to 10pm local time.

About 250,000 Lebanese living abroad have registered to cast their ballots in the election, roughly three times more than the last time elections were held in 2018.

Nearly 70,000 are in Europe, more than 56,000 in Asia, and some 55,000 in North America.

The increase in registrations has in part been attributed to efforts by civil society groups to encourage the diaspora to vote.

Although registered overseas voters account for only 6 per cent of Lebanese eligible to cast ballots in this election, they could still play a pivotal role in the outcome of the first poll to be held since the country was hit by a series of crises that have pushed many Lebanese to emigrate.

In 2018, diaspora votes went to the “traditional” parties — particularly the Christian-led Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement parties — with only 6 per cent backing those on opposition lists.

Ayman Mroueh of the communist party addresses a rally for the South Lebanon 2 list. Those opposing the rally tried to intimidate the opposition candidates, and their supporters, by blocking the road and throwing rocks. All photos: Oliver Marsden for The National

Ali Khalifeh, the Shiite opposition candidate for Al Zahrani in southern Lebanon, stands in the restaurant hall in Sarafand where the opposition rally was hosted.

Supporters of the opposition candidates in the restaurant hall in Sarafand.

A young man shows the cuts to his arm after he was pushed over and beaten as he arrived at the opposition rally. Local residents had gathered to intimidate those arriving for the rally.

Opposition candidates for South Lebanon 2; Muhammad Ayoub, Ali Khalifeh and Ayman Mroue, are joined by Siba Mroueh, the media representative for the Zahrani coalition.

Raghed, 26, left, and Fadia, 23, outside the restaurant in Sarafand. Fadia had her phone taken and thrown away by men trying to intimidate those attending the opposition rally.

Ali Khalifeh, Shiite opposition candidate for Al-Zahrani in Southern Lebanon, greets supporters in the restaurant hall.

Two supporters wait for an opposition rally for South Lebanon District 2 to begin in a restaurant hall in Sarafand. Local men and women gathered to intimidate those arriving for the rally by blocking the road, throwing stones, beating supporters and even firing a gun in the air. Leader of the Shia Amal party, Nabih Berri, is an MP in the same district.

An opposition supporter shows a soldier an injured young man who was beaten on his arrival at the South Lebanon District 2 opposition rally.

A woman films the rally in Sarafand.

Supporters listen to the candidates.

But that was before the crippling economic crisis that has pushed three-quarters of Lebanon's population into poverty since October 2019, and the blast at Beirut's port in August 2020 that killed more than 200 people and destroyed large parts of the capital.

Many Lebanese blame the crisis and the port blast on government negligence, mismanagement and corruption.