H.E. Saad Hariri is now the former Prime Minister of Lebanon.

Delegates attending this month’s MEADFA Duty Free Conference (Beirut 20-21 November) who had hoped to hear Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s welcome address at the Phoenicia Hotel will be disappointed, following his shock resignation over the weekend.

This unexpected development occurred while Hariri, President of the Council of Ministers was visiting Saudi Arabia, where he said he feared an assassination plot against him.

FORMER PM POINTS TO TENSE CLIMATE

He said this had emerged in a climate which he described as not dissimilar to that which claimed the life of his much revered father and former Prime Minister Rafik Harriri, who was murdered 12 years ago.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri had been expected to deliver one of the welcoming addresses at this month’s MEADFA Conference in Beirut.

Rafik Harriri died after a bomb targeted his car in Beirut. The Hezbollah organisation was accused of carrying this out, although the organisation has consistently denied any involvement.

Rafik’s son, Saad Hariri was appointed Prime Minister back in late 2016, although he first took office for a two-year period back in June 2009. It is not known whether he will now return to Lebanon from Saudi Arabia, where he is understod to have dual citizenship.

RESIGNATION HAS SHOCKED MANY SUPPORTERS

This latest development in the Lebanon comes after Saad Hariri was largely credited with bringing together a coalition government representing all factions in the country.

However, he told journalists at the weekend that he believed politicians were now actually failing the country.