Lebanon Voting Rights: Lebanon has been stripped of its voting rights in the United Nations General Assembly for non-payment of annual dues. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the government in Beirut would have to pay dues of about $1.8 million to regain its status. Other countries that previously lost the right to vote were the Dominican, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, South Sudan and Venezuela.
Under UN rules, a country can lose its vote if it has arrears of at least two years, unless it shows evidence that it cannot pay the money for reasons beyond its control. Is. Lebanon has been mired in economic chaos since 2019, when its financial system collapsed after decades of spending, mismanagement and corruption.
Ministry of External Affairs ordered payment
The Foreign Ministry said on Friday (20 January) that the debt would be repaid “immediately, in a way that protects Lebanon’s rights at the United Nations”. Meanwhile, two independent MPs, who spent Thursday (January 19) night in Parliament, said on Friday (January 20) that they would continue to refuse to move until the Assembly elects a new Speaker. Lebanon has had no head of state for more than two months and the government has been operating in a caretaker capacity since May.
Controversy over the presidency
Melhem Khalaf and Najat Saliba were elected in late 2019 in the wake of protests against Lebanon’s corrupt ruling elite. The tussle over the presidency in Lebanon is mostly between supporters and opponents of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Saliba said “Our constitutional right is to remain in the hall until the election of the President, and we are just asking the MPs to do what they are told. We are not challenging anyone, nor are we asking anyone to do anything.” But we are staying here. A two-thirds majority is needed in the first round of voting to win the presidential race in the 128-seat parliament.
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