- 16
- Feb.
- 2024
Presidential Election: For Saad Hariri, a Compromise is Imperative
modified on 11 Apr. 2024 à 15:47 Read : 5 minute(s) A A A
“If the 2016 experience (the compromise that allowed Michel Aoun to be elected president) failed, it does not mean that others will fail too," said former Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the end of his stay in Beirut.
During an informal talk with journalists on Thursday at Beit el Wasat, his residence in Beirut, at the end of his week-long visit to Lebanon, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri called for a compromise to break the presidential deadlock, describing the institutional vacuum the country has been facing since the end of President Michel Aoun's term in October 2022 as "deadly."
In Saad Hariri's speech, one consistent theme stands out: his refusal to provide any indication about the timing of his return to Lebanon and political life. Looking relaxed and smiling, he dodges all questions on the matter, saying jokingly, "Since I have suspended my political activities, I have the right not to answer." However, he hints that the time for him to re-engage in political life hasn’t come yet.
He becomes increasingly serious when addressing the challenges facing Lebanon, particularly the "collapse of institutions," and he is exceedingly critical of political leaders, holding them accountable for "their divisions" and "the inertia they have been accustomed to." "The collapse has occurred. If the country’s leaders do not change their positions and fail to bridge their differences, Lebanon will continue to lag behind while the rest of the world progresses," warns Hariri, noting that Lebanon is no longer a priority for the West and Arab states. He emphasizes that it is incumbent upon the various Lebanese parties to work towards normalization in the country. "Lebanon is suffering from numerous afflictions, and the only solution to reverse the deterioration on multiple fronts is to work towards revitalizing institutions through the election of a president and the formation of a government," he insists.
Top Priority
For Saad Hariri, the election of a president remains “the top priority as the situation is dangerous,” and requires a compromise. "Political parties must reach a solution to put an end to this deadly vacuum. While the 2016 experience was unsuccessful (the presidential compromise through which the founder of the Free Patriotic Movement, Michel Aoun, was elected president), it does not mean that all others will be as well," he said, refusing to elaborate further but adding that he has encouraged "all the blocs" he has engaged with to seek a compromise. He refrains from commenting on a suggestion that the same key players, involved in the 2016 compromise, would play the same role in 2024. In other words, Hezbollah and its ally Amal, who support the election of the leader of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh, as head of the state.
Saad Hariri refrains from getting involved in the name game. "One of the advantages of suspending political life is being removed from it while still being able to comment on what is happening," he smiles. He immediately announces that he is close "both to Sleiman Frangieh, a longtime friend, and to Jihad Azour," the opposition and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) candidate for the presidency.
"I had the opportunity to speak with the latter several times in Abu Dhabi, but I have not seen Sleiman Frangieh in a year, and I won’t see him anytime soon. That's why I invited him to dinner," he explains. The former Prime Minister is confident that an Iranian-Saudi rapprochement, which he attributes to Riyadh's desire to boost its economy, can only have a positive impact on the entire region, including Lebanon.
Council of the Elders
Hariri explains, in response to a question, that his inclination to reassume leadership of the government, should he re-engage in political activities, is minimal. "I have never been keen on being Prime Minister. I was compelled to take on the role. Currently, I believe it's best to appoint a Prime Minister who is both competent and capable of managing the country," he states, before advising "political leaders to form a council of elders and allow the Lebanese people to work towards rebuilding the country."
According to him, the "country is not bankrupt, but suffers from severe mismanagement, which has caused the world to stay at a distance from Lebanon," and it "would be criminal to remain idle when the challenges are huge." This situation is even more urgent as Lebanon risks being dragged into a war "eagerly desired by Benjamin Netanyahu," the Israeli Prime Minister.
Saad Hariri also strongly advocates for moderation, "which, along with openness and communication, lies at the heart of Rafic Hariri's vision." "These values promote political stability and security, essential for economic development and will lead the country to safe harbor," he notes.
While the former Prime Minister asserts that he remains relatively removed from Lebanese politics, he specifies that he will only intervene in one scenario: if extremism gains ground within the Sunni community.
Saad Hariri, who visited Beirut to commemorate the 19th anniversary of his father’s death (former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri,) engaged in discussions with different political and diplomatic figures. His dinner with Sleiman Frangieh didn’t go unnoticed, much like the absence of his friend and ally, Druze leader Walid Joumblatt. When questioned about this matter, Hariri simply replied with a smile: "Walid is Walid."
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