The Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), through its Student Life Office and in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), marked the 10^th edition of the Model Youth Parliament (MYP) with a closing plenary session held at the Lebanese Parliament on Monday, April 28, 2025. The event brought together MPs Inaya Ezzeddine and Salim Sayegh, USJ Rector, Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, and representatives from FNF.

The session opened with a welcome address by Ms. Gloria Abdo, Director of the USJ Student Life Office, in which she expressed her gratitude to Speaker Nabih Berri for offering students the opportunity to take part in this unique simulation experience. She thanked the participating MPs and the Rector, and highlighted the strong partnership with the Naumann Foundation before inviting MP Inaya Ezzeddine to take the floor.

Dr. Inaya Ezzeddine addressed the students, saying: “It is an honor to be here with you today, representing the Speaker of Parliament at his request, and to engage with you at the Lebanese Parliament, a place that embodies the will of the people and stands at the heart of our democratic life.”

She emphasized that her presence was “not simply a formal duty, but a sincere expression of belief in your potential. With your bold ideas, critical minds, and passion for change, you represent Lebanon’s most valuable resource – its human capital.”

“You are not just the ‘future,’ as we often say,” she continued, “you are the ‘present’ – a generation capable of questioning and challenging the status quo at a time when we desperately need new answers to old, unresolved questions that have long weighed us down.”

She affirmed that only students have the power to “break the cycle of repetition and create visions that reflect the hopes and struggles of the people, leading the country beyond division, isolation, and stagnation.”

Dr. Ezzeddine also spoke of the central role of Parliament, describing it as “the mother institution and the cornerstone of our parliamentary, political, and constitutional system.” She outlined the major structural challenges facing Lebanon today, including: sectarianism; the interplay between internal and external factors with their financial, economic, security, and military consequences; and the erosion of trust in public institutions.

In the face of these challenges, she highlighted the need for concrete action:
“True transformation in legislative and political life depends on bold, creative, and courageous thinking – qualities that youth inherently possess. This journey toward change must be built on strategies rooted in inclusion, openness, and active participation.”

She called for urgent efforts to “enhance the effectiveness of Parliament and improve its legislative performance in a serious and responsible manner.”

Concluding her speech, she encouraged students to voice their ideas and contribute to preserving Lebanon as a shared and lasting homeland for all. She thanked the Saint Joseph University of Beirut and ended with a message to the students: “Thank you, young women and men – I wish you the best in today’s session and continued success in the years ahead.”

In turn, USJ Rector, Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, began his speech by thanking Speaker Nabih Berri as well as MPs Inaya Ezzeddine and Selim Sayegh. He said: “Today, in the 150^th year since the founding of our University, we are gathered in this prestigious national venue – under the dome of the Lebanese Parliament, the house of democracy and a meeting place for hopes and aspirations – for an exceptional occasion rooted in faith in the future and in the promise of tomorrow’s generations.”

He emphasized that this was not “a symbolic parliamentary simulation prepared in advance, but a moment in which we witness the emergence of a new Lebanon taking shape through the intellect and drive of its youth. We are gathered to say to the world that Lebanon, despite all its storms, continues to generate life and, from the depths of hardship, brings forth the leaders of a new dawn.”

He assured the students that “this session is not the beginning of the road, but the start of a long and demanding journey,” adding:

“Today, I say to you: your knowledge is your weapon, and your values are your shield. Be dreamers, yes – but be relentless as well. Don’t stop at slogans; write programs, plan, act, and persevere. Today you are learning how laws are made; tomorrow, you will shape the destiny of an entire nation. Today you simulate; tomorrow, you will govern and transform.”

He concluded: “Lebanon is calling you. The land your ancestors worked, the land where the blood of martyrs was shed, calls you to carry the torch forward. Rise to the occasion. Be bearers of a message, not just slogans. Be builders of a nation – not of dividing walls. I speak to you, students: you are the hope, the energy, the resurrection.”

As for Ms. May El Masri, representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom - Lebanon Office, she emphasized that political education is not a secondary concern or a luxury, but a vital foundation for any real democracy. She spoke about the difficult reality facing young people in Lebanon, who are paying the price for decisions they did not make. That’s why, she explained, the Foundation is committed to creating spaces that help youth better understand political engagement – not as something distant or complicated, but as a practical tool they can use to shape their future.

Reflecting on the Model Youth Parliament (MYP), she noted that the initiative has never been easy to sustain: “We developed it over some of the country’s most challenging years – through political, economic, and security turmoil. But one thing remained clear and constant: our unwavering belief in the potential of Lebanese youth.”

She also noted that the program’s content continues to evolve to stay relevant. “This year, we grounded the discussions in the principles of President Aoun’s oath of office and selected draft laws tied to the ministerial statement and urgently needed reforms, focusing on legislation that responds to people’s needs and fuels public debate.”

She closed by thanking all those who helped bring the project to life: “Our partners, the participating MPs, party representatives, and most of all the students who believed in this initiative.”

To conclude the day, students debated four major draft laws: electoral reform, public sector restructuring, border demarcation, and amendments to the military judiciary. The session was presided over by MP Salim Sayegh, and the proposed amendments were put to a vote using the electronic system implemented in student elections at the Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

The parliamentary day wrapped up with an evening celebration, where awards and certificates were presented to outstanding participants – including four students who earned an educational trip to Berlin.

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