To justify his decision, Mr. Hariri has mentioned “the Iranian influence” on the country, the “disorder on the international scene” and the “internal divisions”.
Le Monde with AFP
Saad Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2009 to 2011 and 2016 to 2020, announced, Monday, January 24, his withdrawal of political life. The leading Lebanese Sunni leader, he mentioned “the Iranian influence” on the country, the “disorder on the international scene” and the “internal divisions”.
m. Hariri, propelled on the political scene after the assassination in 2005 of his father, former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, announced his decision in a brief speech delivered in Beirut. This announcement comes after a series of financial and political setbacks, and when Lebanon is struck by the worst socio-economic crisis in its history.
“I suspend my participation in political life and invites my political family within the current of the future to follow my way,” Hariri said, calling for the main Sunni party of the country not to submit candidates for elections legislative legislation in May. “There is no positive opportunity in Lebanon [because of the Iranian influence on the country, disorder on the international scene, internal divisions, confessionalism and the distortation of the State”, detailed the ex -Premier minister.
Repetition political crises
Saudi Arabia was formerly the main regional ally of Mr. Hariri, before their relations deteriorated in recent years, Riyadh believes that he was too complacent with the Shiite Hezbollah movement. Heavyweight of Lebanese politics, Hezbollah is armed and funded by Iran Shiite, a large regional rival of Sunni Saudi Arabia, and represents the only Lebanese faction to have kept its weapons after the civil war (1975-1990).
m. Hariri has already led three governments. Since its first power in power in 2009, it has gradually wrought a reputation as a man of compromise.
He presented his third resignation about two weeks after the beginning of the popular events against the political class on October 17, 2019. Despite his appointment on October 22, 2020 to train the government, he could not go to the end of his mission due to popular resentment and political divisions.
At the end of the last legislative elections of 2018, which have consolidated the influence of Hezbollah, the number of seats in Mr. Hariri’s parliamentary block decreased by about a third party and some have linked the decline in his popularity. the political concessions he has made – accepted, according to him, in order to preserve civil peace.