Jumblat: Aridi Belongs to a Party, Can't Act on His Own
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday noted that resigned Public Works and Transport Minister “cannot act on his own,” after the latter said he was stepping down from his duties in the caretaker cabinet.
“Aridi belongs to a party and he cannot act on his own,” Jumblat said in an interview with LBCI television.
“The party will issue a statement after calmly discussing the circumstances of what he announced during the press conference,” he added.
LBCI said Aridi had taken his decision to withdraw from political life on Wednesday and that contact with Jumblat had been severed “since more than a week ago.”
“Will they treat me like they treated Rafik Hariri?” LBCI quoted Aridi as saying, in reference to a certain resemblance between his resignation on Monday and the slain premier's decision not to run for premiership in 2004.
Meanwhile, al-Jadeed television quoted Jumblat as saying that “a statement will be issued by an official source in the party tomorrow and it will include a response and a clarification of Aridi's remarks.”
Earlier on Monday, Aridi announced his resignation from the caretaker cabinet in light of recent corruption allegations, saying he will "take a break from politics.”
Earlier on Monday, Financial Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim questioned Aridi over allegations of corruption after a spat with caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi.
Source: Naharnet
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