Lebanon's ex-PM Hariri says retires from political life
Gulf Times
Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri, who was propelled into politics by his father Rafik's assassination in 2005, gestures to the crowd after a press conference in the capital Beirut on January 24, 2022.
Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced Monday he would not run in upcoming parliamentary elections and was withdrawing from political life.
The 51-year-old three-time premier, who was propelled into politics by his father Rafic's assassination in 2005, announced his decision during a press conference in the capital Beirut.
The Sunni Muslim leader said he was "suspending his work in political life" and urged fellow members of his Future party to leave the political arena.
A tearful Hariri, who was first elected to parliament in 2005, also announced he would not run in the legislative polls due in May, citing "Iranian influence and international upheaval".