Parliament Votes on Draft Law to Lower Voting Age to 18
Parliament threw the ball into the government”s court on Thursday after it unanimously approved a draft law to lower the voting age to 18 effective in the 2010 municipal elections.
Legislators voted in favor of amending article 28 of the constitution to lower the age of voting from 21 to 18.
The changes will not take effect in time for the June 7 parliamentary elections since voters” lists have already been drawn up and there will be no time to enter, edit and revise any new names. Those over 18 will be allowed to vote in the 2013 legislative polls.
Speaker Nabih Berri said during the session that he will call for another legislative session to discuss parliamentary investigation into corruption.
"Let no one think that this will be the last legislative session," he said.
Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah said after the vote that the "ball is now in the cabinet”s court."
"The cabinet should promptly review the proposal, issue a law and then return the proposal to parliament for adoption," Fadlallah told reporters.
Some press reports speculated that Thursday”s parliament session would face difficulties, particularly since the proposed law requires a two-thirds majority.
Berri later postponed the parliament session to March 26 due to a lack of quorum to discuss other items on the agenda.