Hussein Assi

19/03/2009 Finally, the Lebanese Parliament succeeded in approving the draft law that calls for lowering the voting age to 18, providing the Lebanese generation with one of its fundamental rights, the right of vote.

Indeed, the proposal to lower the voting age was ratified unanimously by the Parliament on Thursday. However, the law wouldn't be adopted during the forthcoming parliamentary elections and it will take effect basically in 2013.

Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Hasan 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.

Ahead of the session, the opposition called on the MPs to confirm their declared support to lowering the voting age. In this context, the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc expressed hope parliamentary blocs would translate into actions their support to a draft law lowering the voting age. "We hope parliamentary blocs will turn into action their vocal support of an amendment to Article 21 of the Constitution to lower the voting age," the bloc said in a statement it released following its weekly meeting.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri described as "important" Thursday's session "because it addresses a vital issue for young people."
"Lawmakers will face a test regarding this age group," Berri told Lebanese daily An-Nahar. "There is no need for concern from the sectarian point of view," Berri assured "since Lebanese expatriates are going to be given the right to vote."

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.

The Speaker postponed the parliament session to March 26 due to a lack of quorum to discuss other items on the agenda.

http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=78280&language=en