Hariri Urges Votes for 'Rafik Hariri Project, Stability, Economy, Arab Identity'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Sunday that each vote that goes to a Mustaqbal Movement candidate in the May parliamentary elections will be “a vote for Rafik Hariri’s project and for Lebanon’s stability, economy, sovereignty and Arab identity.”

“Whoever loves Saad must vote for Mustaqbal’s lists wherever they may be and in all districts,” said Hariri during a ceremony to announce Mustaqbal’s candidates.

“Rafik Hariri protected the country with his blood, so it is not too much if we protect him with our votes,” Hariri said.

Referring to the head of al-Mustaqbal bloc ex-PM Fouad Saniora’s decision not to run in the elections, Hariri hailed the former premier for “giving a splendid example about a successful legislator, minister, premier and statesman.”

He said Mustaqbal’s platform for the elections is a platform of “legitimacy, moderation, coexistence and the project of the state,” stressing that “only the constitution, state institutions, army and security forces can protect Lebanon.”

“We are all working to serve you and serve a grand project based on protecting the country and its stability and safety as well as protecting the constitution, freedom, democracy and sovereignty,” the premier added.

He said Mustaqbal’s platform also involves “protecting social security and the national currency, boosting the economy and finding jobs for young men and women.”

Below are the names of Mustaqbal’s candidates as announced during the ceremony:

- Sidon-Jezzine district: Bahia Hariri and Hassan Shamseddine

- Chouf-Aley district: Mohammed al-Hajjar and Ghattas Khoury

- West Bekaa-Rashaya district: Mohammed al-Qaraoui, Amin Wehbe and Ziad al-Qaderi

- Zahle district: Assem Araji and Nizar Dalloul

- Baalbek-Hermel district: Hussen Solh and Bakr al-Hujeiri

- Tripoli-Minieh-Dinniyeh district: Mohammed Kabbara, Samir al-Jisr, Dima Jamali, Nehme Mahfoud, Layla Shahoud, Shadi Nashabeh, Walid Sawalhi, George Bikassini, Qassem Abdul Aziz, Sami Fatfat and Othman Alameddine

- Akkar district: Tarek al-Merehbi, Mohammed Suleiman, Walid al-Baarini, Hadi Hbeish, Khodr Habib and Jean Moussa

- Beirut’s second district: Tammam Salam, Nouhad al-Mashnouq, Rola al-Tabsh Jaroudi, Ghazi Youssef, Rabih Hassouna, Bassem al-Shab, Nazih Najm, Zaher Walid Eido, Ali al-Shaer and Saad Hariri