Lebanon commemorated on Saturday the 21st anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, with a popular rally and pointed political statements highlighting questions of sovereignty, state authority, and upcoming elections.
Speaking to supporters in Downtown Beirut, his son, former PM and leader of the Future Movement Saad Hariri said Lebanese citizens “have the right, after years of wars, to have one country, one army, and one weapon.”
He added that when parliamentary elections are held, “they will hear our voices.”
The elections are set for May.
Supporters of the Future Movement gathered in Downtown Beirut amid tight security, waving party and Lebanese flags as anthems played. Political, diplomatic, and religious figures, along with parliamentary and party delegations, visited Rafik Hariri’s grave to pay their respects.
Ahead of the commemoration, President Joseph Aoun wrote that the country “misses a man who devoted his life to the project of the state, to rebuilding Lebanon, and to strengthening its Arab and international standing.”
He said Rafik Hariri believed in the state and its institutions, coexistence, and that true recovery begins with investment in people, education, and the economy, describing his assassination as a turning point in Lebanon’s history.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Rafik Hariri was a national figure with a clear vision who led reconstruction efforts after years of war and worked to preserve civil peace through implementation of the Taif Accord.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri described Rafik Hariri as a statesman, advocate of unity, and proponent of moderation, calling for adherence to those principles to safeguard Lebanon.
The US Embassy in Beirut said Ambassador Michel Issa laid a wreath at Hariri’s grave, noting that his legacy of peace-building and prosperity remains relevant as Lebanon stands at a critical crossroads, and stressing the need for justice and accountability.
Taif Accord and Arab relations
Addressing supporters in Martyrs’ Square, Saad Hariri said the Future Movement’s project is “one Lebanon, Lebanon first,” rejecting any return to sectarian strife.
He stressed that full implementation of the Taif Accord means allowing the state to have monopoly over weapons, administrative decentralization, abolition of political sectarianism, creation of a senate, and full commitment to ceasefire arrangements.
He reaffirmed the Future Movement’s commitment to Arab unity, saying it has always sought to build bridges, not walls, and to support Arab rapprochement.
Hariri added that the movement wants the best relations with all Arab states, starting with Syria, voicing support for reconstruction and stability efforts led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
On the upcoming elections, Hariri recalled that he had promised the Future Movement would be the voice of its supporters in national milestones, foremost among them the elections.
“Tell me when the elections are, and I will tell you what the Future Movement will do,” he declared.
He pledged that when elections take place, their voices would be heard and counted, adding that unity would remain their source of strength, “in good times and bad.”
