Aoun sees no reason to postpone the elections after Hariri's withdrawal

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Saturday he saw no reason to postpone the parliamentary elections scheduled for May, after former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his boycott and his withdrawal from political life.

The move opens a new phase in Lebanon's sectarian politics, and increases the uncertainty facing a country suffering from a financial collapse that poses the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-90 civil war.

Aoun made his statements after meeting with the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian.

Aoun said that he stressed to the Mufti "the importance of the role played by the honorable Sunni community in preserving Lebanon's unity and political diversity, and on participating with all components of Lebanon in the national and political life and the entitlements that shape the future of Lebanon and its people."

"We have made all the preparations for the elections to take place at their appointed times," he added.

The boycott of Hariri and his Future Movement will affect the 20 seats he won in the 2018 elections, and many of the seats won by other groups that have local alliances with the Future Movement.

Bahaa, the elder brother of Saad Hariri, hinted on Friday that he would enter political life, adding that he would continue his father's career.

His media adviser said he would not run in the elections, but would instead support electoral lists.

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