Lebanon: Alloush Is First to Resign From Al-Mustaqbal Movement Following Hariri’s Withdrawal

Former Lebanese MP Mustafa Alloush (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former Lebanese MP Mustafa Alloush (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Lebanon: Alloush Is First to Resign From Al-Mustaqbal Movement Following Hariri’s Withdrawal

Former Lebanese MP Mustafa Alloush (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former Lebanese MP Mustafa Alloush (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Former Lebanese MP Mustafa Alloush submitted his resignation from Al-Mustaqbal Movement without confirming his intention to run for the upcoming parliamentary elections in May.

His move came in the wake of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s decision to suspend his political work.

The former premier, who announced his withdrawal from Lebanon’s political scene at the end of January, had reportedly told Al-Mustaqbal members who wish to run for elections to refrain from using his name or that of the movement.

Alloush was the first to submit his resignation from the party.

In comments, Al-Mustaqbal issued a statement, saying: “Dr. Mustafa Alloush submitted his resignation from the Future Movement in a call he made with Prime Minister Saad Hariri.”

It added: “Hariri considered the resignation effective and deposited the decision with the Secretary-General to proceed accordingly. Thus, Dr. Alloush is freed from any organizational obligations and has the full right, according to the rules, to take the path he deems appropriate, whether in the elections or otherwise, wishing him success and appreciating his positions and the tasks he assumed in the movement over the past years.”

Alloush was one of the most prominent opponents of Hariri’s decision to suspend political work. He recently agreed with former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that the Sunni arena should not remain vacant.

Recent reports said that he was in constant coordination with Siniora and other former prime ministers.

However, sources close to the former deputy said that he was yet to decide on his electoral candidacy.

Meanwhile, Siniora announced that he was seriously considering running in the parliamentary elections, and called on the Lebanese, especially Sunnis, to participate massively, whether by voting or submitting their candidacies.



South Korea Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria

 In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
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South Korea Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria

 In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)

South Korea and Syria have signed an agreement in Damascus establishing diplomatic relations, the South Korean foreign ministry said on Friday, opening new ties with a traditional ally of its rival North Korea.

The event marks a milestone for South Korea now having established diplomatic ties with all 191 UN member states and opening "a new chapter for bilateral cooperation with Syria, which had long remained distant due to its close ties with North Korea," the South Korean foreign ministry said.

South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba last year, another old ally of the North.

North Korea's state media ceased mentions of Syria since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December except leader Kim Jong Un once referring to "the Middle East crisis" in passing.

A joint communique was signed by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday, and Cho expressed willingness to share South Korea's development experience to support Syria's reconstruction, the ministry said.

Cho later met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, it said.