Naharnet

Rifi: I Will Confront Anyone who Wants to Divide Tripoli According to their Agenda

Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi declared on Sunday that “no one” can impose his will on the northern city of Tripoli.

He said after casting his vote in the municipal elections in the city: “I will confront any side that seeks to divide Tripoli according to its agenda.”

“We have suffered greatly due to such divisions,” he noted.

“I have chosen to leave the farm mentality, because I am a citizen not a sheep,” he told reporters.

“The elections do not intimidate us and the voter determines who wins and who loses. If we are defeated, then the Tripoli voters would have made their decision.”

Moreover, Rifi revealed that this was his first time practicing his right to vote since no longer being a member of the military after departing his post as Internal Security Forces chief.

He took the occasion to criticize the law that bars military officials from voting, saying that such a reality is no longer acceptable.

Rifi is backing a Tripoli municipal list headed by Ahmed al-Qamri. It is running against a list, headed by Azzam Aweida, who is backed by Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri, former Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and former Minister Faisal Karami.

The fourth and final round of the municipal elections kicked off on Sunday in the North and Akkar.

Source: Naharnet


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