Parliament Session Next Month to Lower Voting Age to 18
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for a legislative session on March 19 to vote on a draft law setting the minimum voting age at 18, An-Nahar daily reported Monday.
The proposal, made by “Loyalty to the Resistance” parliamentary bloc, will not be discussed at this week”s legislative session.
In case Parliament votes in favor of the law, the changes will not take effect in time for the upcoming June elections, parliamentary sources told An-Nahar. They said that voters” lists have already been drawn up and there will be no time to enter, edit and revise any new names. However, the 18 age group will be able to vote at the next municipality elections in 2010.
In an interview with An-Nahar, Berri said he will not allow "the marginalization" of 18-year old citizens, describing them as the "nerve of social progress and development." In the remarks published Monday, Berri said: "In the name of all parliamentary opposition blocs, I say we will work hard to allow this (age) group to vote as practiced throughout the world."
He said that the current administration has turned into "a shadow government." He added that "the youth shadow government, sponsored by Nayla Tueni, represents the aspirations of the Lebanese public and those of the 18 year olds, who have the right to vote and have their names entered on the voting lists."