Lebanese diaspora is a wealth, not a bazaar

Lebanese Expatriates: Between Political Manipulation and National Responsibility

The Lebanese diaspora has played a significant role in shaping the country’s history, from Tanios, the first immigrant, to the millions who followed. Lebanese have traveled the world, establishing themselves in trade, business, politics, medicine, literature, and art.

From Gibran Khalil Gibran, the legendary writer, to Carlos Slim Helu, the Mexican businessman who became the world’s richest man, and Michael DeBakey, the pioneer of heart transplant surgery—Lebanese heritage runs deep in global success stories.

Many have risen to high political ranks, such as Enrique Celine Bouserkis, the President of Paraguay’s Parliament, and Ray LaHood, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

These success stories prove the immense talent, creativity, and ambition of the Lebanese people, yet back home, their potential is stifled by a system plagued with sectarianism, corruption, and political manipulation.

The Expatriate Vote: A Tool for Political Gain

While Lebanese abroad continue to support their homeland, contributing $7-8 billion annually in remittances, their role in Lebanon’s elections has become a political weapon.

Politicians who once marginalized expatriates and blocked their right to vote in parliamentary sessions in June 2008, are now scrambling to mobilize their votes for the upcoming June 7 elections.

The Tactics of Electoral Bribery

To secure expatriate votes, politicians and their supporters have engaged in:
✈️ Chartered flights for Lebanese abroad, offering free travel to Lebanon.
🏨 Paid accommodations for their stay until the election.
💵 Direct cash payments in exchange for votes.
🛍️ Food, medical, and bank cards as financial incentives.

Amid these intense propaganda campaigns, the message being sold is that Lebanon’s future is at risk—specifically, the claim that the country is in danger of Iranian influence through Hezbollah and its allies. The narrative echoes former U.S. President George W. Bush’s rhetoric about the “Axis of Evil,” rebranded to manipulate expatriate emotions.

Expatriates: A National Asset or Political Commodities?

Lebanese expatriates should have a natural right to vote, as long as they hold Lebanese citizenship. However, the real danger lies in the corrupt practice of vote-buying, which:

Destroys democratic values by turning elections into a marketplace.
Gives power to the highest bidder, not the most qualified leader.
Undermines credibility in Lebanon’s political process.

🔹 Whoever has money controls Lebanon’s leadership, regardless of their competence or legitimacy.

It is ironic that the same politicians who now exploit expatriates for votes had once worked to suppress their influence in Lebanese politics. This shift exposes the hypocrisy of Lebanon’s ruling elite.

Lebanon’s Critical Crossroads: The Expatriates’ Role

Lebanon faces major domestic, regional, and international challenges, and the next elections will be a defining moment. Expatriates hold immense power in determining the country’s fate.

Two Possible Outcomes for Lebanese Expatriates:

1️⃣ They accept electoral bribery and allow themselves to be used as pawns in a political game.
2️⃣ They reject corruption and uphold their dignity, sending a message that Lebanese democracy cannot be bought.

🔹 If expatriates fall into the trap of political manipulation, they risk being remembered as a “human wealth” reduced to electoral slaves.
🔹 And If they refuse bribery, they will preserve their dignity and protect Lebanon’s democratic future.

A Call for a New Vision

Ambassador Fouad Ghandour, the Dean of Lebanese Expatriates, has urged expatriates to participate in elections with integrity. He emphasizes that:

📢 Expats should not be treated as election-day commodities but as partners in nation-building.
📢 Lebanon’s politicians must engage with them through structured, long-term programs—not temporary electoral interests.

To truly benefit from the diaspora’s potential, Lebanon must:
Retain its talented citizens by improving conditions at home.
Encourage expatriates to invest in Lebanon, providing secure economic opportunities.
Foster a democratic system based on merit, rather than financial influence.

The True Test for Lebanese Expatriates

The June elections are a test of patriotism, democracy, and dignity.

Will Lebanese expatriates allow themselves to be manipulated, or will they rise above corruption and stand for integrity?

🚨 Lebanon is at a turning point, and its fate lies in the hands of its people—both inside and outside the country.

📢 The choice is clear: Be the guardians of democracy or the tools of its downfall.