Three candidates are expected to run in next month’s parliamentary by-elections in the Lebanese northern city of Tripoli, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The elections are set to fill the vacant Sunni legislative seat after Lebanon’s Constitutional Council annulled last month the parliamentary membership of Dima Jamali, of Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Mustaqbal Movement.
“The electoral battle will take place between Jamali, former minister Ashraf Rifi and Samer Qabbara, the nephew of MP Mohammed Qabbara,” the sources said.
A fourth candidate, Taha Naji, could join the race if the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects (AICP), known as al-Ahbash, decides to back his candidacy.
Naji told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday that the al-Ahbash is expected to take a decision in this regard in the coming two days.
Barring an unexpected development, Rifi will make an official announcement over his candidacy on Thursday, revealed sources from Tripoli. Qabbara is expected to announce his candidacy on Wednesday.
They said that the Mustaqbal Movement insists on renewing its support for Jamali.
Rifi had suggested that he would withdraw from the race if the Mustaqbal Movement finds a substitute for Jamali.
However, the sources said that the Movement does not want to “break the word” of Hariri, who renewed his support for her last month shortly after the Constitutional Council’s ruling.
The sources said former PM Najib Mikati, MP Qabbara and former minister Mohammed Safadi decided to back Jamali’s candidacy. These official doubt however, that they could convince their supporters to head to polling stations on the day of the elections.
Head of Lebanon’s Constitutional Council Judge Issam Sleiman said last month that by-elections in Tripoli must be conducted within two months, as per article 41 of the Constitution.
