Future Movement

The Future Movement (Arabic: تيار المستقبل) is a Lebanese political party affiliated with the Sunni sect. The party was founded as a coalition in 1995 led by Rafic Hariri but was officially founded in 2007. The party is led by Saad Hariri.[2]

Saad Hariri
Future Movement
تيار المستقبل
AbbreviationFM
ChairpersonSaad Hariri
General SecretaryAhmad Hariri
FounderSaad Hariri
Founded2007
HeadquartersBeirut
NewspaperAl-Mustaqbal
IdeologyClassical liberalism
Economic liberalism
Lebanese nationalism
Political positionCentre-right[1]
National affiliationMarch 14 Alliance
International affiliationLiberal International
Regional affiliationArab Liberal Federation
Colours  Blue
Parliament of Lebanon
20 / 128
Cabinet of Lebanon
2 / 24
Party flag
Website
www.almustaqbal.org

The party is the largest member of the March 14 Alliance, which governed Lebanon from 2005 to 2018 except for the period 2011–2013. The coalition lost its majority in the 2018 parliamentary elections.

In mid-October 2019, a popular protest movement began calling for increased accountability and transparency in politics. On 29 October, Chairman Hariri offered his resignation as a concession, saying "This is in response to the will and demand of the thousands of Lebanese demanding change".[3] However, as of December 2019, President Michel Aoun has yet to accept his resignation, and it is possible the Hariri will suspend his resignation a second time. His purported resignation has, however, been confirmed as a stunt by one of his aides.[4]

The party was officially founded in August 2007, yet it was only declared on April 5, 2009, in a convention held at the BIEL convention center in Beirut. The Future Movement is economically liberal and affiliated with the Sunni Muslim sect.[5] The party is a full member of the Liberal International[6] and a founding member of Al Hurriya Liberal Network.[7]

Saad Hariri surprisingly announced his retirement from politics on 24 January 2022. The Future Movement announced it would thereafter not take part in the 2022 Lebanese general election.[8]

Politics

The Future Movement was founded in 2007 and was part of the March 14 Alliance that includes, amongst many groups, the Christians associated with the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb parties (main 2 allies of FM), and the majority Druze Progressive Socialist Party. The main opponent of Future Movement is the March 8 Alliance, most important parts being Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by General Michel Aoun and the Shia Hezbollah and Amal Movements.

Opposition to Hezbollah

In 2011, an official of the Future Movement warned that Shia Hezbollah "has all the characteristics of a terrorist party", and that Hezbollah is moving Lebanon toward the Iranian Shi'ite Islamic system of government.[9]

On 23 June 2013, Future Movement MP Nohad El Machnouk, who was appointed as the minister of interior and municipalities in Prime Minister Tamam Salam's government on 15-2-2014,[10] told Murr TV that Lebanon is under occupation by Hezbollah.[11]

Media

The Future Movement has an important media presence in Lebanon and internationally. Media outlets expressing the Movement's views include Future Television, Future News, Radio Orient and Al Mustaqbal daily newspaper.

Future Television was a Lebanese owned and operated company founded in 1993. First launched in Lebanon on February 15, 1993, Future Television, although the youngest of the Lebanese stations back then, became the nation's fastest growing station. In September 2019, Lebanese Prime Minister and party leader Saad Hariri announced the suspension of work at his Future TV satellite television channel after 26 years of broadcasting, citing financial reasons for halting operations.[12]

Future Youth

The Future Movement's youth wing, Future Youth, is a member of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY).

Election summary
Election year # of

overall votes

 % of

overall vote

 # of

overall seats won

 +/– Bloc Leader
1992
3 / 128
 Rafic Hariri
1996 19.53% (#1)
25 / 128
22
2000 20.31% (#1)
26 / 128
1
2005 28.12% (#1)
36 / 128
10
 Fouad Siniora
2009
33 / 128
3
 Saad Hariri
2018 256,454 (#3) 14.58%
20 / 128
13
2022
TBD
 Saad Hariri

References
  1. "Lebanon: Country Risk". Société Générale. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ""تيار المستقبل": ارتجال التأسيس واختبار المِحن (3/1)". 180Post. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  3. "Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigns after mass protests". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Network. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  4. "As Lebanon's economy drowns in debt, Syria's begins to sink as well". The Economist. 12 December 2019.
  5. Carla E. Humud, Lebanon's 2018 Elections, CRS Insight, May 11, 2018 (IN10900).
  6. Full Members Archived 2014-05-25 at the Wayback Machine, Liberal International
  7. "شبكة الحرية الليبرالية تطلق اجتماعها الأول من الأردن عبر منصة "زووم" | ثقافة | وكالة أنباء سرايا الإخبارية - حرية سقفها السماء". www.sarayanews.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  8. "Lebanon's Future Movement left reeling as Hariri bows out of politics". The National. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  9. Allouch: Hezbollah qualifies as a terrorist group. YaLibnan. 23 May 2011
  10. "Nouhad Machnouk Official Page". www.facebook.com.
  11. "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  12. "Cash-strapped Future TV suspends operations after 26 years on air | AW staff". AW. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
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