From Martyrs’ Square, where he was met with cheers from his supporters, amidst red, white and green Lebanese flags, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced the return of the Future Movement to Lebanon’s political scene. “The supporters of Rafic Hariri will remain, and their voices will resonate in all upcoming national events and milestones. Everything happens in its time,” he declared repeatedly, alluding to the next parliamentary elections scheduled for May 2026.
After greeting the massive crowds gathered in Beirut to commemorate the assassination of Rafic Hariri, Saad Hariri emphasized, “It is our collective responsibility to restore Lebanon’s unity, and today we have a golden opportunity to do so.” He welcomed the election of a new President and the formation of a new government, calling it a “new hope for the country” and reaffirming his support for it.
He further stated, “Our project is the implementation of the Taif Agreement and the reconstruction of the state and its institutions.” According to him, this requires “handing over all weapons not under the control of the Lebanese Army to the official military institution and ensuring the independence of the judiciary.”
Addressing Lebanon’s security situation, he expressed his support for “the state and the army, which are working to enforce the ceasefire agreement and achieve the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from South Lebanon.”
Speaking to residents of the border region, Hariri described them as “a bridge to relations with Arab nations and key partners in rebuilding the country.” Paying tribute to Lebanon’s martyrs, he declared, “I bow before all the martyrs of the South, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, and before such great solidarity.” Calling for national unity, he affirmed, “Lebanon is one.”
Reflecting on his own resignation, a move he described as an act of responsibility in response to the country’s challenges, Hariri stated, “We have never denied our share of responsibility for the events that have shaped Lebanon.” He acknowledged that “over the past twenty years, our country has faced numerous crises that have severely impacted the Lebanese people, and we bear part of the responsibility for this—something we have never denied.”
He also recalled Lebanon’s long struggle for freedom. “Twenty years ago, you expelled Assad’s regime from Lebanon. Today, it is the heroic Syrian people who have risen and driven Bashar al-Assad out of Syria.” He praised the Syrians for their courage in pursuing change and resisting oppression. “This occasion allows us to reaffirm our support for the Syrian people’s aspirations, for Syria’s stability and reconstruction, and for the development of bilateral relations based on full respect for each state’s sovereignty and independence,” he concluded.
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