BEIRUT: The foreign ministry defended Monday holding elections in Lebanese embassies abroad by stating that Parliament's extension had yet to become official.
“The foreign ministry organized the voting in its diplomatic missions and consuls at a time when the extension law was not yet published in the Official Gazette,” according to a statement published by the foreign ministry.
Earlier this week, Lebanese expats residing in the Australian Melbourne, Sydney and Kuwait were able to cast their vote for parliamentary elections, in a move that marks the first Lebanese elections to be held abroad, despite the fact that lawmakers had already voted in favor of extending their mandate for a second time.
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil told reporters Monday that expat elections prompt an amendment to Lebanese election law in order to allow more expats to elect their representatives in Parliament. An amendment should also serve to facilitate the procedure by making way for votes to be cast online or by mail.
Parliamentary elections for Lebanese expats proved to be a flop Sunday, after only three people cast ballots across three centers in Australia, and only one voter showed up at the Lebanese embassy in Kuwait on Friday.
The elections were the first to be held abroad since Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk approved expat voting last September.
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