Report: Hariri to take part in elections, won't ally with Hezbollah

During meetings he held Friday with several prominent figures and members of parliament, ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri emphasized that "Lebanon and the region are witnessing a strategic shift, and Lebanon has a golden opportunity as a result of the collapse of the Iranian and Hezbollah project," a media report said.

"Therefore, we can accomplish a lot, because the obstructionist approach was hindering all development projects," he added, according to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.

Hariri affirmed to the MPs that he is "eager to return to political life" and that "al-Mustaqbal Movement and the legacy of the martyred premier (Rafik Hariri) will be preserved.

"He will head a parliamentary bloc, and therefore will be present in the elections, both as a candidate and as a supporter," the MPs said.

According to the report, Hariri asserted that "there will be no alliance with Hezbollah, regardless of the circumstances."

"Rather, the goal of participating in the elections is to form a bloc that supports the state project and saves Lebanon. The principle of forming electoral lists will be addressed later, especially since the electoral law imposes rules different from the majoritarian system. However, what is certain is that there will be no alliance with Hezbollah and its axis," Hariri reportedly added.

And while stressing the relationship with Saudi Arabia, the reliance on its role, and the importance of coordination with it, he affirmed that "Lebanon is facing a new opportunity that must be seized."

But on the other hand, he considered that “the elections are an opportunity for change, while their date is not final despite Speaker (Nabih) Berri’s candidacy, so we must wait for things to become more serious.”