MP Robert Fadel Resigns in Wake of Tripoli Municipal Vote
Tripoli MP Robert Fadel announced Monday his resignation from parliament, protesting the surprising results of Sunday's elections in the northern city in which no Christian candidates managed to win seats on the municipal council.
“An MP cannot be happy while his people are miserable,” Fadel said in a statement.
“Pluralism, coexistence and balance among the country's components are necessary conditions for Lebanon's existence,” he stressed.
“I have stood by (al-Mustaqbal movement leader) ex-PM (Saad) Hariri and I will always stand by him every time his representation, position and moderation are being targeted,” Fadel went on to say.
A list backed by resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi achieved a stunning victory Sunday against a list backed by Hariri, ex-PM Najib Miqati, former ministers Faisal Karami and Mohammed al-Safadi, Jamaa Islamiya, al-Ahbash and the Arab Democratic Party.
The Rifi-backed list clinched 18 seats on the municipal council as the broad coalition's list won only six.
Christian and Alawite candidates representing the city's two minorities failed to win any seats, which is a first in the history of Tripoli's municipal elections.
Y.R.
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