The leader of the Future Movement, Saad Hariri, during the 20th commemoration of his father Rafik Hariri's assassination in Beirut, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Credit: Mohammed Yassin/ OLJ)
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will not participate in the municipal elections, despite having announced two months ago the return of his Future Movement for “all upcoming political junctures.”“Convinced that municipal elections are local and non-political in nature, I have instructed the Future Movement not to take part in this vote, in any village or city,” Hariri said in a statement released Wednesday.The text added that the decision “also applies to Beirut,” where Hariri’s camp will not be involved in the municipal elections, neither by fielding candidates nor by supporting any lists or individuals.This decision has raised concerns over the preservation of the Muslim-Christian parity on Beirut’s municipal council, a framework that was established in 1998 by the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and maintained ever since. Saad...
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will not participate in the municipal elections, despite having announced two months ago the return of his Future Movement for “all upcoming political junctures.”“Convinced that municipal elections are local and non-political in nature, I have instructed the Future Movement not to take part in this vote, in any village or city,” Hariri said in a statement released Wednesday.The text added that the decision “also applies to Beirut,” where Hariri’s camp will not be involved in the municipal elections, neither by fielding candidates nor by supporting any lists or individuals.This decision has raised concerns over the preservation of the Muslim-Christian parity on Beirut’s municipal council, a framework that was established in 1998 by the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and maintained ever...