BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Saturday he saw no reason for a delay to parliamentary elections in May after three-times former prime minister Saad al Hariri announced he was boycotting the vote and stepping away from politics.
Hariri has been Lebanon's leading politician since inheriting the mantle of his father, Rafik al Hariri, after his assassination in 2005.
The move opens a new phase in Lebanon's sectarian politics and adds to the uncertainties facing a country suffering a financial meltdown that marks the biggest threat to stability since a 1975-90 civil war.
Aoun, the Maronite Christian president, was speaking after meeting Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Lebanon's senior cleric.
"I emphasised to His Eminence the Mufti the role played by the honourable community in preserving Lebanon's unity and political diversity, and the importance of participation with all components of Lebanon in national and political life," Aoun said.
"We are carrying out all the necessary preparations for holding the elections on time, and I do not see any reason for delaying them."
Western states want the vote to go ahead on time.
Together with its allies, the Hizbullah, which is designated a fighter group by the United States, won a parliamentary majority in 2018.
A boycott by Hariri and his Future Movement will affect the 20 seats they won in 2018, and many more won by other groups in local alliances with Future.
On Friday, Saad's older brother, Bahaa, signalled he was entering politics, saying he would "continue the journey" of his father.
He plans to support candidates but will not be running himself, his media advisor said. Bahaa has been fiercely critical of Hizbullah, and the compromising approach adopted by Saad towards the group in the later years of his career.
US TO REROUTE $67M IN AID: The US plans to reroute $67 million of military assistance for Lebanon's armed forces to support members of the military as the country grapples with financial meltdown.
According to a notification sent to Congress, the State Department intends to change the content of previously appropriated foreign military funding for Lebanon to include "livelihood support" for members of the Lebanese military, citing economic turmoil as well as social unrest.
"Livelihood support for (armed forces) members will strengthen their operational readiness, mitigate absenteeism, and thus enable LAF members to continue fulfilling key security functions needed to stave off a further decline in stability," said the notification to Congress, seen by Reuters.
Washington is the biggest foreign aid donor to Lebanon. US officials had pledged additional support in October. - Reuters
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