Saad Hariri's Future Movement to Contest Lebanese Elections

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has indicated that his Lebanon===Future Movement party will contest upcoming parliamentary elections, marking a potential return to front-line politics after a four-year absence. This announcement was made during a speech commemorating the 21st anniversary of his father Rafic Hariri's assassination. Hariri had previously stepped back from politics in 2022, citing Iran's influence, an indirect reference to Hezbollah. His return is anticipated to consolidate Sunni Muslim representation in the Lebanese parliament, which had become fractured in his absence. The elections are scheduled for May 10, despite ongoing security concerns in southern Lebanon and disagreements over polling procedures. Hariri's decision comes at a time when Hezbollah has been significantly weakened by a recent conflict with Israel and is under US-backed pressure to disarm. Hariri has explicitly stated there will be no alliance with Hezbollah, aiming instead to form a bloc that supports saving Lebanon.