BEIRUT, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Monday that next year's parliamentary elections will be held on time and urged the Lebanese expatriates to vote.
Berri called on the diaspora and those who will not be present in Lebanon during the elections to register prior to the Nov. 21, 2017 deadline.
"Your nation is calling all of the Lebanese diaspora to participate in the election of a legal parliament and to refuse any attempts to stop this process," Berri said in a news conference.
"I invite you to participate in the elections and renew our joint hopes for social and economic building in Lebanon," he added.
Berri said he was speaking on behalf of himself and his Amal Movement in calling for expats to register.
Lebanon is to hold the legislative elections in May 2018 according to a new law based on proportionality that has been approved following years of debate among the political parties, which led to the extension of the current parliament's mandate.
The parliament members are elected for a four-year term and the last elections were held in 2009.
