Future Movement leader Saad Hariri and his aunt Bahia Hariri at the tomb of Rafik Hariri, former prime minister, in Beirut, Feb. 14, 2025. (Credit: Future Movement X account)
“All in its own time,” Saad Hariri repeatedly told the crowd gathered last Friday at Martyrs’ Square to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. On that day, three years after bowing out from Lebanese politics, the leader of the Future Movement announced his party was making a comeback.However, by Tuesday, Saad had boarded a plane back to the United Arab Emirates, where he has been based since January 2022. This means that not all the conditions for Hariri’s personal political return have been met yet, even though he is still the Sunni community’s main leader.“He has made half the journey,” said a source close to the Future Movement. “The second half depends on Saudi Arabia,” and its potential green light for such a move.From within the Future Movement’s inner circles come...
“All in its own time,” Saad Hariri repeatedly told the crowd gathered last Friday at Martyrs’ Square to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. On that day, three years after bowing out from Lebanese politics, the leader of the Future Movement announced his party was making a comeback.However, by Tuesday, Saad had boarded a plane back to the United Arab Emirates, where he has been based since January 2022. This means that not all the conditions for Hariri’s personal political return have been met yet, even though he is still the Sunni community’s main leader.“He has made half the journey,” said a source close to the Future Movement. “The second half depends on Saudi Arabia,” and its potential green light for such a move.From within the Future Movement’s...