Rifi Urges Parliamentary By-elections in Tripoli, Keserwan

Caretaker Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi on Thursday called for holding parliamentary by-elections to fill the two vacant seats of the Tripoli and Keserwan electoral districts.

“After Tripoli's Greek Orthodox parliamentary seat became vacant following the resignation of Mr. Robert Fadel, and after a Maronite parliamentary seat became vacant in Keserwan due to the election of General Michel Aoun as president, we request taking the necessary measures to hold the elections as soon as possible in line with the Constitution's stipulations and out of respect for the people's will,” said Rifi in a memo addressed to the premiership.

He noted that Article 41 of the Constitution calls for electing a successor within two months from the vacancy of any parliamentary seat.

Fadel had announced his resignation from parliament in May, protesting the surprising results of Tripoli's municipal polls in which no Christian candidate managed to win a seat on the municipal council.

“Pluralism, coexistence and balance among the country's components are necessary conditions for Lebanon's existence,” Fadel stressed.

A list backed by Rifi achieved a stunning victory against a list backed by al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri, ex-PM Najib Miqati, ex-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 was a first in the history of Tripoli's municipal elections.