World Lebanese Cultural Union
The President of the the WLCU, Mr. Roger Hani together with the Secretary-General Georges Abi Raad, the President of the Youth section of WLCU, Ms. Guadalupe Boulanos, and other members of WLCU visited the following Ministers to invite them to the opening ceremony of LEBolution 2025 which will take place in July 21st. This event will bring 120 young men and women of Lebanese descent from various countries to reconnect with their heritage. The program includes visits to Lebanon’s cultural, historical, and tourist sites across all regions, as well as recreational activities, humanitarian initiatives, and opportunities to explore their ancestral villages. Additionally, participants will receive guidance on reclaiming their Lebanese citizenship, which many lost due to their ancestors’ failure to register births with diplomatic missions.
During the meetings, the delegation raised several key diaspora concerns, including:
– Opposing the restriction of diaspora representation to six parliamentary seats and advocating for their abolition. Instead, they emphasized the right of expatriates to vote in their hometowns and constituencies across Lebanon, ensuring a free and independent electoral process.
– Requesting that candidate names on diaspora voting lists be displayed in their native foreign language alongside Arabic, enabling younger generations unfamiliar with Arabic to make informed choices without external assistance.
– Calling for the removal of deadlines for reclaiming Lebanese citizenship, as the initial ten-year grace period is nearing its end. Bureaucratic challenges within Lebanese state institutions have hindered many applicants from completing the process.
– Linking diaspora investments to resolving the financial and banking crisis, stressing the need to safeguard depositors’ funds and ensure their return.
All Ministers showed their concern and excitement about Lebolution program and promised help and for it’s success.
They also agreed to maintain open communication to address the above mentioned concerns and collaborate on solutions.
Find below the album of the different visits:
Minister of Industry, Joe Issa El Khoury
Minister of foreign affairs, Youssef Rajji
Minister of Communication, Paul Morcos
Minister of Public Works, Fayez Rasamni
Minister of Tourism, Mrs Laura El-Khazen Lahoud
