The Cabinet is set to convene Thursday afternoon at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. The session is expected to focus on two major issues: the nationwide arms control plan and proposed amendments to the electoral law.
Arms control plan
The first agenda item will involve a presentation by the Lebanese Armed Forces on the progress of the government’s weapons control plan in accordance with Cabinet Decision No. 5 of September 5, 2025.
The monthly report should provide updates on implementation efforts, including oversight mechanisms and compliance measures.
Electoral Law Amendments
The second agenda item will continue discussions on amendments to Lebanon’s 2017 electoral law.
On Tuesday, the ministerial committee reviewing the electoral law met at the Grand Serail to reconcile various proposals and draft a unified bill to address flaws identified in the current legislation. Key issues include the voting rights of Lebanese expatriates, the method of voting, and registration deadlines.
The committee has reportedly agreed to merge proposals from the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries. Among the suggested reforms are abolishing Article 112 of the 2017 law, which limits expatriates to six parliamentary seats; replacing magnetic voting cards with QR codes for remote voting; and extending the registration deadline for expatriates until the end of January 2026.
Some ministers are pushing for stricter measures, including the possibility of suspending expatriate voting entirely, while others advocate maintaining their right to vote in their respective districts. The final Cabinet decision is expected to determine whether the draft will be forwarded to Parliament, though Speaker Nabih Berri has historically resisted debating changes related to expatriate voting, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Other Legislative and Administrative Items
Beyond these priority issues, the Cabinet will consider a wide-ranging agenda, including legislative proposals, administrative matters, and social initiatives. Key items include an amendment to Article 751 of the Code of Civil Procedure, a proposal to replace pretrial detention with electronic monitoring, proposals to regularize the status of General Security inspectors and unify tax exemptions for housing loan beneficiaries, and amendments to the narcotics law and civil aviation regulations.
The agenda further includes memorandums submitted by the Education Ministry and administrative matters such as staffing regulations at the National School of Administration and pending public sector appointments.
While the Cabinet is expected, in its Thursday session, to reach decisions on draft electoral amendments, the final implementation depends heavily on parliamentary approval
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