Speaking on the 15th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Lebanese former prime minister Saad Hariri gave a speech that sparked a multitude of responses. Some said it signaled a new phase for Lebanon.
“There is no doubt that there is a new political stage,” Lebanese lawmaker Mohammed Al Hajjar said.
In an oblique hint at Gebran Bassil, Hariri said that as a Prime Minister, he in fact had to deal with two presidents of the Republic at the same time, noting: “I was always required to secure the relationship with the shadow president in order to protect stability with the original president”.
In a speech on the 15th commemoration of the assassination of martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, during a ceremony in the Center House in the presence of a large number of officials and Future movement supporters, Hariri said, addressing the shadow president: “You wasted half of the president’s mandate in disruption and cancellation wars. You sabotaged the mandate and registered the collapse of the country under your name and the name of the mandate”.
Addressing his supporters, Hariri added: “I am not going anywhere. I am staying in my country and among my people and I will remain in the political work. The Future movement will remain! The free, patriotic, sovereign Lebanese who want a country that benefits them and their children will also remain and no one can scare them”.
He also reiterated his support for early elections.
“After Hariri's words, there is no doubt that there is a new political stage, especially with parties that were under the so-called March 14 Alliance in government,” Future movement lawmaker Hajjar said.
Hajjar also decried rival politicians for leveling accusations against Hariri’s legacy.
