Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Monday that he will not run for the upcoming parliamentary elections and will not nominate any candidates on behalf of or in the name of the Future Movement.
Hariri’s comments were made during a press conference whereby he also revealed that he will suspend his participation in the political life, calling on his Future Movement family to do the same.
Hariri, on the other hand, stressed that he will always be available to serve his people, albeit without any official role or direct responsibility in government, parliament, or politics.
He went on to say that late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's project can be summarized in two ideas: first, the prevention of a civil war in Lebanon, and second, a better life for the people of Lebanon.
“I succeeded in the first but not the second,” he added.
He then stressed that “there is no doubt that compromises were imposed on him to prevent a civil war from breaking out,” adding that it was the reason for every step he took and why he lost his fortune, some International friendships, a lot of national alliances, some friends, and even brothers.
“These compromises that were made at my expenses might also be the reason I didn’t succeed in providing a better life to the people of Lebanon,” Hariri explained.
He also noted that he can bear all this but cannot bear the fact that some Lebanese people, who he sees no reason to stay in politics except to serve them, consider him as one of the pillars of the authority that caused the current disaster and is prohibiting any new political representation that might find solutions for the country and its people.”
He concluded by pointing out that there was no hope for Lebanon while the Iranian influence remains as well as the international disarray, national division, the use of sectarianism and a worn state.
To watch the full report, please click on the video above.