Tearful Hariri Withdraws from Politics Citing 'Iranian Influence' and 'Int'l Confusion'

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri announced Monday the “suspension” of his role in political life and confirmed that neither him nor his political movement would run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The 51-year-old, who was propelled into politics by his father Rafik's assassination in 2005, announced his decision during a press conference in Beirut.

“Rafik Hariri's project can be summarized with two ideas -- preventing civil war in Lebanon and providing a better life for the Lebanese. I succeeded in the first and didn't achieve enough success in the second,” Hariri said.

“Preventing civil war obliged me to engage in settlements, from containing the repercussions of May 7 (clashes) to the Doha Agreement to visiting Damascus, Michel Aoun's election and the electoral law,” the ex-PM added, noting that these settlements came at his expense.

Noting that “preventing civil war” and “securing a better life for the Lebanese” were behind every step that he took, Hariri pointed out that this approach was the reason behind the loss of his “personal fortune, some foreign friendships, a lot of national alliances and even some comrades and brothers.”

“What I cannot bear is that a number of Lebanese now consider me to be one of the members of the ruling class that caused the disaster,” Hariri went on to say.

Adding that he is convinced that “there is no hope for any positive chance for Lebanon amid the Iranian influence, international confusion, national divisions, the aggravation of sectarianism and the state’s decay,” the ex-PM announced the suspension of his role in political life and called on al-Mustaqbal Movement to take the same step.

“No nominations will be made for the parliamentary elections, neither by al-Mustaqbal Movement nor in the name of the Movement,” he confirmed.

Addressing the supporters of political Harirism, the ex-PM said he will “remain in the service of our people and country.”

“From our position as citizens, we will continue to cling to Rafik Hariri’s project to prevent civil war and seek a better life for all Lebanese. We will remain in the service of Lebanon and the Lebanese and our houses will remain open,” Hariri added.