In a press conference on Monday from Beit El Wasat in Beirut, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri officially announced that he will not participate in the upcoming 2022 elections and called on his party, the Future Movement, to take the same step in suspending political work.
In his speech, Hariri pointed to the position he took in face of the demands of the Lebanese Revolution in 2019, stating that he was “the only one” who listened to the people and resigned. He also brought up his efforts to make changes after the Beirut Blast with a focus on a government of specialists.
Deeming it his responsibility back then, as currently in face of the political mayhem, he has taken the decision to withdraw from the political life with his party and boycott the coming elections.
“I am convinced that there is no room for any positive opportunity for Lebanon in light of Iranian influence, international confusion, national division, sectarianism, and state weariness,” he charged as a reason for his decision.
He stressed that he will not run for parliamentary elections and won’t submit any nominations from the Future Movement or on behalf of the movement.
However, Hariri won’t be completely withdrawing from the Lebanese scene. He called on the people “of the Rafik Hariri school” to continue serving the people and their country, yet with no “direct role or responsibility in the authority, the prosecution, and politics in its traditional sense.”
“We remain at the service of Lebanon and the Lebanese, and our homes will remain open to the goodwill of our people and loved ones from all Lebanon,” he added.
