In a surprise move, Nader Hariri, chief-of-staff and cousin of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, stepped down from his official post Saturday evening.
A statement released by the prime minister’s press office announced his resignation.
"Hariri thanked Nader Hariri for all his work during the period of his position. [The prime minister] wishes him good luck on his endeavors,” it read.
No further details were provided, leaving the circumstances of his departure unclear.
Mohammad Mneimneh, head of the prime minister’s protocol, has been appointed acting chief-of-staff.
Nader Hariri’s resignation Saturday evening follows the Future Movement’s call earlier in the day to disband the party’s electoral supervisory bodies.
Supervisory committees were established by Lebanese political parties to monitor the electoral process and follow up on the transparency and fairness of the vote, in the country’s first general elections to be held in nine years
A statement from the party stipulated that supervisory bodies would take up a caretaker role but would no longer be empowered to make decisions.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
