MP-elect Mustafa Husseini, who will occupy the Shiite seat in the Keserouan-Jbeil district, said that he would not join the Amal Movement, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, despite his visit to the latter immediately after the announcement of his victory. Husseini, the only Shiite MP from outside the Shiite duo, represented by Amal and Hezbollah, expressed his pride in winning Christian votes in the Maronite stronghold. He said that his victory “represents a Christian message to the Muslims,” stressing that his arrival to Parliament was the result of the “decision of the people of Jbeil.” In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Husseini explained that his victory came “within a strong alliance in the area, formed of MP-elect Farid Haykal El-Khazen, the Kataeb Party and former MP Fares Soueid.” “We were expecting to win three seats, but we won only two seats [Husseini and Khazen], because of the corruption in funding campaigns and the sectarian pressure against us,” he stated. Husseini stressed the presence of “strong relations with Al-Marada Party and the Kataeb, which engaged in the electoral battle with us, but we have not yet discussed the details of forming one bloc, and this depends on the agreement on national issues.” Hezbollah, whose candidate Hussein Zeaiter lost against Husseini, is criticizing the latter’s victory, saying that he won the votes of the Christians because the Shiites did not give him more than 250 votes. “I am proud that I received the votes of the Christians, but that does not mean that someone controls my decision,” Husseini said, denying reports that spread following his visit to Berri that he would join the Amal Movement bloc. “I am also proud to be the Muslim ambassador in the area of Jbeil-Keserouan, which is the stronghold of Christians and Maronites specifically,” he added.