A Political Necessity For Mr. Hariri

The Future Movement’s stance was politically important for Mr. Hariri, but it won’t be a major hurdle to the formation of a new government.

Imad Zaghloul, an FM supporter hospitalized after being attacked by mobs. (source: Almustaqbal)

Yesterday, Mr. Saad Hariri “suspended” the Future Movement’s contribution in the cabinet Line-up talks. The move was in protest against security breaches by opposition armed gangs in the FM power base of Tarik el Jdideh. Mr. Hariri demanded that the security section of the Qatar agreement be honored before any further talks can take place.

Considering the size of Mr. Hariri’s parliamentary bloc, the move in effect halts the formation of the crucial government. So how big of a deal is this?

According to a source close to Mr. Hariri, the regular intimidation and bullying by armed mobs is radicalizing the Future Movement’s supporters who were already humiliated from their perceived impotence during the previous raid on Beirut. The “Sunni street” is becoming vocal in demanding harsher, more militant measures from Mr. Hariri, on the grounds that the “others only understand the language of force”, he wrote. The implicit political threat is that the supporters will start seeking more radical options if the government fails to guarantee their security.

Under these circumstances, Mr. Hariri decided to put his metaphorical foot on the ground to call attention to the security situation in various areas of Beirut. Mr. Hariri is not interested in stalling the process of forming the new government, according to the source, but he wants the proper security conditions in place. As soon as those are addressed, Mr. Hariri will be the first to celebrate the formation of a new government.