MP Assem Araji (Future Movement/Zahle), head of the parliamentary Health Committee, will not stand for reelection. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — MP Assem Araji (Future Movement/Zahle), head of the parliamentary Health Committee, announced Saturday that he will not stand for reelection in the May 15 polls, making him the latest member of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Future Movement to boycott the election.
Here's what we know:
• As reported by the National News Agency, Araji cited "confusion and great fragmentation at the national level, especially the fragmentation occurring at the level of the Sunni community, which will lead to the difficulty of forming a powerful parliamentary bloc after the elections ... especially after the temporary suspension of the political work of Prime Minister Hariri" and "solidarity with the decision taken by [Hariri]" as the resons for his abstention.
• He also cited "external domination imposed on all aspects of the state, as the will of the Lebanese became captive to non-Lebanese hands, regardless of the results of any elections," an apparent swipe at Hezbollah, which is accused by its opponents of implementing an agenda dictated by Iran.
• Araji added, "Our decision to abstain does not mean that we will ever leave political life. Rather, our responsibility is greater to be on the side of our people from within their ranks in this difficult period."
• Araji's announcement followed a similar one on Friday by MP Rola Tabsh (Future Movement/Beirut II).