March 8 Wants To Obstruct Expatriates’ From Voting
Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said that depriving Lebanese emigrants from their right to vote on technicalities only motivated them to come to Lebanon and cast their polls “as it is a national duty.”
Zahra said that the March 8 coalition – primarily the one harmed by the changes in Christian public opinion, in reference to the Free Patriotic Movement – was the one who launched its campaign to stop emigrant voting.
In an interview on Wednesday, Zahra said that March 8 went the extra mile to prevent emigrant voting, as opposition parties sometimes told Lebanese expatriates they were “electoral cards,” and other times they tried to frighten voters by citing the latest security incidents. March 8 then launched their unjustifiable attack on March 14 alliance figures, he added.
He said that March 14 was keen to facilitate the process of getting valid Lebanese IDs to voters by sending mayors abroad to prepare needed applications.
Zahra said he valued the efforts of Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to ensure free and transparent elections as part of the adopted electoral law. He said what distinguished Baroud was his personal follow up on all matters, as well as informing parties of the status of and progress made on their issues.
Zahra called on all Lebanese to vote, especially those who were forced to live abroad, saying that “our country is in the minds and hearts of all.”