Lebanon: Saad Hariri back for commemoration of his father's assassination

Saad Hariri, then Prime Minister, gives a speech in Beirut on February 14, 2021, in front of a portrait representing his late father, former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, killed sixteen years earlier in the explosion of a car bomb.

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The Lebanese commemorate Monday, February 14, the 17th anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, killed on February 14, 2005 in a bomb attack on a van.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Like every year since 2005, February 14 is a public holiday in Lebanon to commemorate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, killed with 22 other people in a van bomb attack.

Public administrations, banks, schools and universities are closed.

The commemoration is taking place this year in special circumstances, marked by the withdrawal from political life of his son and successor, Saad Hariri, and of the party he founded, the “Current of the Future”.

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The memory of Rafic Hariri strongly present

No large-scale rally this year, no political rally either.

Despite this, the memory of

is strongly present in various forms.

Portraits of the former Prime Minister have appeared all over the country, the hashtag #RaficHariri has been shared thousands of times on the Web and the companions and sympathizers of the former head of government have gathered on his grave in downtown Beirut.

Saad Hariri returned to Beirut on Sunday February 13 from Abu Dhabi, where he resides.

He chaired in the afternoon a meeting of the political bureau of his party put on hold, and must deliver a speech on Monday.

Supporters of Rafic Hariri have the impression this year of mourning the death of their leader killed in 2005, and the disappearance, 17 years later, of the Sunni leadership he founded. 

► To read also: Bahaa, brother of Saad Hariri, intends to return to Lebanon for the legislative elections

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• Lebanon

• Saad Hariri