Saad al-Hariri’s Task

We used to hear a lot about Saad al-Hariri being the heir of his father, the late Premier Rafiq al-Hariri, but that he was not like his father. He is young (39 years old) and was born rich; he inherited a role that he was not ready to play. Today, Saad al-Hariri has become the prime minister-designate of Lebanon, after a big election win, and we can say that he won the elections thanks to his efforts and those of his election campaign. He did not “inherit” the election campaign; it was his campaign, thanks to a democratic path that everyone acknowledges, including the opposition, which lost in the polls. Today, Saad al-Hariri has truly gained the status of political leadership in Lebanon and he can, through his personal and rising level of political experience, take the path of his father. There are huge obstacles before him. However, al-Hariri has a legacy from his father – constant optimism and a drive to overcome the roadblocks, even in the direst of circumstances, as was the case on the terrible day of 7 May 2008, when Hizbullah attacked the city of Beirut.

Saad al-Hariri is assuming the post of prime minister in conditions that differ from those that prevailed for his father. He and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman enjoy a relationship of trust and respect, built on their attachment to Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and freedom, while the relationship between former President Emile Lahoud and Rafiq al-Hariri was completely different. The former was the ally of Damascus in Lebanon and the elder al-Hariri had a profound dispute with him. Today, Saad al-Hariri is trying to form a government of national unity that truly wants to build a state and get the country out of the socio-economic crisis. The way ahead is full of pitfalls, with an influential opposition that is awaiting al-Hariri’s failure. The developments in Iran and consolidation of the Ahmadinejad regime through fraud, in addition to Israel’s policy of rejecting any concession that would facilitate the peace track with the Palestinians and Syria, all boost the influence of Hizbullah and Syria’s allies on the local scene, despite the Lebanese parliamentary elections, which showed the world that the majority chose moderation, openness and democracy, and rejected an alliance with the logic of dictatorship and the single party.

Certainly, al-Hariri’s task is extremely difficult. However, he is optimistic by nature. And he has relations in the Arab world that he inherited from his father, led by his second country, Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt and the UAE and also Qatar, which helped bring about a solution when the situation in Lebanon had reached a stalemate. What many people do not know is that Saad al-Hariri has family ties with Iraq, as his mother is Iraqi, and he has relations with many Iraqi leaders and closely follows developments in this country, which he knows.

Internationally, al-Hariri has the support of the US, France and Russia; he has been received in these countries at the highest levels, and is the head of the Future Movement. Certainly, these ties will help him overcome the obstacles, if there is true inter-Arab reconciliation. Lebanon will greatly benefit from such a development. He is now trying to form a national unity Cabinet that will build the state and help the country exit its socio-economic problems. Of course, Arab assistance for al-Hariri will be crucial and international assistance will help him considerably. All of the major powers are determined to help Lebanon and the government of al-Hariri.

Saad al-Hariri wants to strengthen the Lebanese Army, and he believes in a free market economy that is open to the world; he wants to continue his father’s drive to make Lebanon a leading regional economic center in the Middle East, attract foreign investment, and keep the country safe from wars and destruction. However, al-Hariri wants the opposition to take part, since he is determined to overcome the obstacles and pitfalls. The question today is whether an inter-Arab reconciliation has truly come about, and will Syria keep its promise to Saudi Arabia to allow Lebanon to live free, without political paralysis and obstacles. Will Syria’s ally Iran refrain from using the Hizbullah card in its confrontation with the west? All of these questions are on the table, and were on the table during the elections, when al-Hariri and his allies achieved a victory. He can, once again, through partnership with President Suleiman and anyone who truly wants the best for the country, to form a government of national unity, which will begin the urgently-needed efforts for the sake of Lebanon. Saad al-Hariri’s legacy is tantamount to a treasure that was left by his father to his children and to Lebanon, and there is great hope that the young prime minister-designate will complete the path of rebuilding the country, as sought by his late father, who paid for Lebanon’s independence with his blood. We can only wish him the best and also hope that God protects him from the hand of treachery, which has killed the martyrs of Lebanon.