After Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Monday that he will not run for the upcoming parliamentary elections and that he will suspend his participation in the political life, a number of political figures took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the situation.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati tweeted after Hariri’s press conference that Hariri’s speech today is “a sad news for the country and for him personally He did, however, add that he understands Hariri's unfortunate circumstances and the bitterness he is experiencing.
He went on to say that "the country will always unite us, and moderation will be our path, no matter what the circumstances and situation are."
Walid Jumblatt, the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, tweeted after the news that "today the country was orphaned and Moukhtara is saddened."
He later told Reuters that "Hariri's decision means a free hand for Hezbollah and the Iranians," adding that "it is a very sad decision, and we will lose the pillars of independence and moderation as a result."
Head of the Popular Bloc Myriam Skaff also declared through a tweet that “the political life in Lebanon will not be straightened if a strong component decided to isolate and to suspend its political work,” adding that “Hariri is the strongest component in the Sunnite religion and our country will not be okay if an important religion is not part of the political web,” concluding that after a similar decision the elections now in jeopardy.
Finally, MP Tamam Salam also took this twitter to say that “Hariri’s stand does not only reflect what he has reached as a conclusion during these times in Lebanon but reflects as well the loss of deep political and national balances to protect the unity of the country and its people.”