Future Movement

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.

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, told Murr TV that Lebanon is under occupation by Hezbollah.

Media

Main article: Future TV

Future TV 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.

Future Youth

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

Election summary

2018

At a ceremony in the Seaside Pavilion on 11 March 2018 the candidates and electoral platform of the Future Movement were presented. The party fielded 37 candidates, out of whom 21 were newcomers. The political newcomers included lawyer Roula Tabash Jaroudi in Beirut II and civil society activist Chadi Nacchabe in Tripoli.

The electoral slogan of the party was 'Blue Talisman' (kharzé zar’a). Commenting on the slogan party leader Saad Hariri stated that "[the] Future Movement is a Talisman (blue bead) that you put in the ballot box, to protect the country. For that reason, our slogan is the protection of Lebanon and the symbol is the Talisman. You will draw the Talisman with your activity, with your energy, with your daily small and large contributions to the electoral machine, in your dialogue with people, in working for each candidate on the Future lists."

The Future Movement and the Lebanese Forces negotiated for weeks on forming an electoral alliance, but the effort failed as relations between Future leader Saad Hariri and LF leader Samir Geagea deteriorated on issues relating to Hariri's visit to Saudi Arabia.

2022

After Hariri's boycott, many Sunnis in North II and Akkar chose to follow boycott as well, after which his resignation created a large vacuum in Sunni politics.

Many Ex-Future politicians headed their own blocs, such as Bahaa Hariri and Fouad Sinora, and managed to secure 7 seats of the candidates that were affiliated with the Future Movement in parliament.

Though Mohammad Kabbara has been affiliated with Hariri for years, his son Abdelkarim Kabbara opted to go onboard the Mikati-Backed list as an independent unrelated to the Future Movement.

References

References

1. "Lebanon: Country Risk". [[Société Générale]].
2. (2020-07-20). ""تيار المستقبل": ارتجال التأسيس واختبار المِحن (3/1)".
3. "Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigns after mass protests". Al Jazeera Network.
4. Carla E. Humud, [https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/IN10900.pdf Lebanon's 2018 Elections], [[Congressional Research Service. CRS Insight]], May 11, 2018 (IN10900).
5. [http://www.liberal-international.org/site/Full_Members.html Full Members] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-25 , Liberal International)
6. "شبكة الحرية الليبرالية تطلق اجتماعها الأول من الأردن عبر منصة "زووم" {{!}} ثقافة {{!}} وكالة أنباء سرايا الإخبارية - حرية سقفها السماء".
7. (2022-01-24). "Lebanon's Future Movement left reeling as Hariri bows out of politics".
8. (2025-02-14). "Hariri announces Future Movement return to politics, including 'all upcoming elections'".
9. [http://www.yalibnan.com/2011/05/23/allouch-hezbollah-qualifies-as-a-terrorist-group/ Allouch: Hezbollah qualifies as a terrorist group]. ''YaLibnan''. 23 May 2011
10. "Nouhad Machnouk Official Page".
11. (February 2022). "YouTube".
12. "Cash-strapped Future TV suspends operations after 26 years on air {{!}} AW staff".
13. (2014-05-25). "www.liberal-international.org".
14. National News Agency. ''[http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/89050/ Hariri announces Future Movement candidates: Vote for our lists to protect Lebanon's stability, economy, sovereignty and Arabism]''
15. ''L'Orient Le Jour''. ''[https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/article/1104287/le-futur-annonce-ses-candidats-37-noms-dont-21-nouveaux.html Le Futur annonce ses candidats : 37 noms dont 21 nouveaux] {{Webarchive. link. (2 May 2018'')
16. 128Lebanon. ''[http://www.128lebanon.com/brief-on-the-lebanese-election-speculations-rise-as-deadline-nears.php Brief on the Lebanese Election: Speculations Rise as Deadline Nears] {{Webarchive. link. (29 April 2018'')
17. ''L'Orient Le Jour''. ''[https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/article/1104962/les-slogans-electoraux-de-2018-un-gros-flop-.html Les slogans électoraux de 2018 : un gros flop ?] {{Webarchive. link. (16 March 2018'')
18. ''Annahar''. ''[https://en.annahar.com/article/778221-lf-and-future-movement-talks-over-electoral-alliance-hit-a-dead-end LF and Future Movement talks over electoral alliance hit a dead end] {{Webarchive. link. (17 June 2018'')
19. (2022-01-24). "Hariri will not run in parliamentary elections due to 'Iranian influence'".
20. (17 May 2022). "Here's The Full List Of How Many Seats Each Party Won In The 2022 Lebanon Elections". 961.
21. (12 April 2022). "In the North II constituency, indecision is coupled with demobilization". L'Orient Today.