BEIRUT — The office of former Minister Tarek Mitri, considered for the position of vice president in Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam's future Cabinet, declared in a statement Thursday that Mitri has become the target of a defamation campaign organized by MTV, "which of course is not based on any facts."

The statement adds that this "campaign was preceded by a phone call from the owner of the channel, Michel al-Murr," in which he reportedly told Mitri that he was "no longer entitled to hold" a ministerial position. The CEO of MTV allegedly threatened his interlocutor with a media campaign against him.

From the archives

Tarek Mitri: Israel is also leading a war against the Lebanese, not only against Hezbollah

In recent hours, MTV has published at least three critical articles against the politician, who belongs to the Greek Orthodox community and served as a minister in four successive Lebanese governments from 2001 to 2005, holding the ministries of Environment, Administrative Development, Culture, and Information. He also served as interim Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On social media, MTV's attacks have mobilized media and political figures who have shown solidarity with Mitri.