Jamaa Islamiya Official Resigns in Wake of Tripoli Poll Results
Political official of the al-Jamaa al-Islamiya in the North and Tripoli Ihab Nafeaa submitted his resignation on Tuesday in protest to the outcome of the municipal elections in the northern city, the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.
“Agreements and alliances were formed in the municipal elections in Tripoli which did not live up to the expectations of many in the city,” said Nafeaa in a statement announcing his resignation.
“A leader can foresee from his position better than a normal person would, and he might be mistaken in his effort and has therefore to bear the responsibility of his decisions,” he added.
He pointed to the outcome of the municipal elections in Tripoli, and said: “The results of the polls have shown that our choice was not a proper one. Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya did not live up to the expectations of the people of Tripoli. I therefore shoulder the responsibility in front of my family and supporters of the Jamaa and I submitted my resignation.”
Nafeaa's resignation came a day after Tripoli MP Robert Fadel submitted 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.
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.
Source: Naharnet
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