Lawyer Joseph Mansour Asmar announced on Monday his candidacy for the by-elections to be held three weeks from now in the Metn region. "I decided to run for the Maronite seat in the by-elections for the Metn district because I consider myself to represent moderate Christians and because I am a supporter of healthy competition," a statement issued by Asmar said. By-elections scheduled for August 5, will be held in the second district of Beirut and in the Mount Lebanon region of Metn to replace slain MPs Walid Eido and Pierre Gemayel. Asmar is not originally from the Metn region; he rather originates from the Baabda region. "A lawmaker is a representative of all the Lebanese and not of a particular region," Asmar said. The lawyer said he was aligned with neither the March 14 Forces nor the opposition. "I believe that an MP is a position aiming at helping people rather than acquiring political privileges," he added.