HARIRI BACK IN BEIRUT – AND BACK IN POWER?
▶ Lebanese PM who said he would step down postpones his resignation
Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri said yesterday that he had accepted a request from president Michel Aoun to “postpone” his resignation pending talks.
Mr Hariri and Mr Aoun earlier met parliamentary speaker Nabih Berry for talks at Baabda Palace after the prime minister’s much anticipated return to Beirut.
“President Aoun asked me to reconsider my resignation before making any new moves and also asked me to discuss reasons behind that resignation. I agreed to co-operate,” Mr Hariri said.
He announced his shock resignation in Riyadh on November 4, saying it was because of Iran’s influence on his country. But Mr Aoun refused to recognise Mr Hariri’s decision or take further action until he returned to Lebanon.
The prime minister arrived back in Beirut late on Tuesday, 17 days after his resignation and just in time for Lebanon’s independence day celebrations the following day.
Yesterday morning, Mr Hariri was the star of the annual military parade through the capital, with former and current presidents and ministers turning out to welcome him back.
Mr Berry arrived to watch the parade from a platform, saluted Mr Hariri warmly and sat next to him. The two men were then joined by Mr Aoun whose arrival was met with a 21-gun salute.
The parade, which lasted for about two hours, began with music performed by the military orchestra. Troops, including women-only units, marched in front of the platform where the three were seated as they talked and laughed.
Armoured units were among those taking part in the show. This year’s highlight was the Bradley American armoured vehicles acquired by the Lebanese army this year. Anti-tank missiles, tanks and mobile artillery were also paraded.
Meanwhile, helicopters patrolled the skies of Beirut.
Mr Hariri, Mr Berry and Mr Aoun’s next stop after the parade was Baabda Palace where the prime minister had been expected to officially hand his resignation to the president. But the plan had changed.
In his second shock announcement of recent weeks, Mr Hariri said he would be postponing his resignation, stressing the need for a “new national political dialogue” .
The three men were not alone at the palace. In an awkward moment caught on camera, Mr Hariri avoided shaking the hand of the Syrian ambassador in a room flooded with visitors.
Shortly after he said Lebanon was “in need of exceptional efforts from all parties to immunise its fronts at this very critical stage, nationally, to face all challenges and risks”.
“Self-exclusion is one of the main needed obligations,” Mr Hariri said. “We must exclude ourselves from what threatens the stability of our country and the brotherly relationships with other fellow Arabs.”
He said he was “looking forward to a true partnership with all various political parties and powers”.
“Our priority today should be the supreme and best interests of Lebanon despite all other interests.
“Also, we must preserve the coexistence of Lebanese among one another, and we must maintain the path needed to rebuild our state.
“Lebanese citizens handed to Lebanese parties and powers and leaderships to guard with their conscience,” Mr Hariri said.
“We shouldn’t take this trust for granted.”
At a rally in Beirut’s Central District later in the day, hundreds of people turned out
We must preserve the coexistence of Lebanese among one another, and we must maintain the path needed to rebuild our state
SAAD HARIRI
Returned Lebanese prime minister
to show their support for Mr Hariri as he promised to stay in the country.
Holding flags of his Future Movement party in their hands, they marched towards the prime minister’s downtown residence where he then addressed them from a small stage outside his front door.
“I’m staying with you,” Mr Hariri told the crowds. “We’re continuing together, to be the first line of defence for Lebanon and its stability. We don’t have anything that is more precious than Lebanon.
The prime minister joined the crowds in singing the Lebanese national anthem before shaking hands and taking selfies with some of his supporters.