The Lebanese parliament failed to adopt a draft law on lowering voting age from 21 to 18. While many MP’s vocalized support for the amendment, 66 abstained from voting. MP Marwan Hamadeh told the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Monday that he supports linking the draft law to lower the legal voting age to granting Lebanese living abroad the right to vote from their countries of residence. He added that the granting Lebanese emigrants the right to vote is as important as allowing Lebanese youth to cast their ballots.

“Abstaining from voting [on the draft law pertaining to lowering the legal voting age] is not to drop the proposal, rather it is to maintain the voting rights of Lebanese youth and emigrants,” Hamadeh said.

Youth activists held a sit-in in Riad Solh square to call for lowering voting age.

Speaker Berri adjourned the parliamentary session until 6:00 p.m. 15 other draft laws were adopted.