Saad Hariri arrives in Paris from Saudi Arabia

Hariri resigned as Lebanon’s prime minister earlier this month while in Saudi Arabia. He and his wife arrived in Paris early on Saturday morning in a move widely seen as a bid to dismiss fears that he had been held against his will and forced to resign by Saudi authorities.

At midday, Hariri arrived at the Élysée Palace in Paris for a lunch meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

An Associated Press journalist saw Hariri emerge from a convoy that arrived Saturday morning at his Paris residence, where police stood guard. Hariri walked out of his car and moved straight into the building without speaking to journalists.

Lebanese television showed the prime minister accompanied by his wife Lara al-Azm, but none of his three children appeared.

A French diplomat confirmed Hariri’s arrival but would not comment on his plans beyond meeting Macron. It’s unclear when Hariri might return to Lebanon.

Shortly after his arrival, however, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that President Aoun had announced that he had spoken to Hariri over the phone and that he expects him to be back in Beirut by Wednesday to take part in the country's Independence Day celebrations.

Before leaving Riyadh, Hariri dismissed as “rumours” reports about his alleged detention in the kingdom. In a tweet, he insisted his stay in Saudi Arabia was to consult with officials there on the future of Lebanon and its relations with its Arab neighbours.

Hariri announced his resignation November 4 in a broadcast from Saudi Arabia.

Aoun refused to accept it, accusing the Saudis of holding him against his will.

Shortly before he left Riyadh, Saudi Arabia asked its citizens for the second time in less than two weeks to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible” given the “circumstances” there. That raised fears of more punitive actions to come.

Macron said Hariri will be received “with the honours due a prime minister”, even though he has announced his resignation, since Lebanon hasn’t yet recognised it.

Hariri’s family is expected to have lunch at the French presidential palace. Macron said he thinks Hariri intends to return to Lebanon “in the coming days and weeks”.



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