As per his yearly tradition, Michel Hayek made predictions for Lebanon and the region for the year 2026:

The title of my predictions for Lebanon is ‘the purge.’ When I say purge, I mean many things. A purge of intentions. A purge of hearts. A settling of accounts. A clearance of old goods, a sale. A purge of heads, and even a purge with blood.

The purge I mean comes in the sense of cleaning. We will shake off, from ourselves and from our country, the dust of the past. Where do I begin? I begin with some points from the oath speech and the ministerial statement that will start to be implemented one after another.

First, I will say what has been going through my mind, and I believe through the minds of people everywhere. There is danger facing presidents. There is a question here. But is the danger immediate? Now it is not dangerous. Is there a war or not? We are at war. And the strikes that…”

“What’s coming will not be greater than what Lebanon has already gone through. I have said this before, we are in a war of peace. Israel will strike where it sees fit, even if it has to strike near the American embassy.

There will also be an expansion in parliamentary elections, through a ‘cesarean birth.’ Everything in this phase will come through a cesarean birth, just as I told you about the birth of the president and the government.

The airport is threatened with a strike, one strike or two. Strikes on the airport will not change anything. The smallest natural storm, anywhere in the world, shuts things down for a week or two.

Is there peace or not? There is peace. And after a deep breath, peace will pass. Water and electricity will not remain.”

They are both struggling, but moving toward improvement. I see an inflow of capital and investors, an improvement in the financial situation.

We will see money coming into people’s hands. Deposits will be untangled, step by step, even if the final solution is still on the horizon.

The economy will not be cooked overnight. It is a slow simmer, pots heating up. I see it warming up, getting ready to run into restructuring.

Everything that is chaotic will be restructured, from banks, to borders, to real estate, all the way to weapons.

There will be a hot summer, and a winter of construction.

There will be tourism, diverse tourism, and most importantly, tourism will be historical tourism, in the great museum called Lebanon itself, with its nature, ruins, churches, monasteries, and shrines.

Some municipalities will compete to achieve better development.

Migrants who left long ago are starting to think about returning. Even the younger ones who were born abroad are coming to Lebanon. They will taste zaatar manousheh, its scent, and cheese kunafa in Lebanon.

The black market will no longer be tied to what is officially labeled as ‘anti-corruption.’

Lebanon’s gold will do its job.

There will be prosperity across regions, not sectarian or faction-based, an unprecedented boom since the start of the war.

Every area will choose a logo to represent itself.

The fight against corruption will grow stronger, and its road will not be short.

Sports will head toward a peak, with women at the forefront. There will be assassinations and purges, as we said.

Lebanese art will help extinguish the fire of war and spark the launch of Lebanon’s revival.

The grey list will change its color. They will turn the page on money laundering.

The railways are being renovated, becoming a tourist landmark, waiting for the train to arrive.

Individual projects will launch strongly, built on solid foundations, forming the start of Lebanon’s revival.

Lebanon’s oil is heating up, with surprises ahead.

Reconstruction will take place in the foreseeable future. Maps, files, and the flow of funds have already begun.

Finally, I want to say that the level of optimism and hope in Lebanon is higher than it was before. The Lebanon workshop has started. Lost opportunities will converge, and Lebanon will benefit from them in services.

Everything I mentioned will happen quietly, subtly, and without noise.

Always remember the words of President Rafic Hariri: ‘The country is moving, and work is moving,’ always in mind, and much of it will fall into place.

And I want to tell you something very important: the time of miracles is not over.

I see that President Aoun’s prayers are accepted in heaven, for Mar Charbel and Lebanon, and it will not sink, God willing.

This is the picture, God willing, a positive picture.

And the ‘purge’ is really more a cleansing of hearts than a purge of the diaspora.

Lebanon’s father, Dr. Youssef, his name, his ideas, and his voice. And its impact will cross the monastery walls in its smallness.

Riyad Salameh’s guarantee is secured, but like an insurance policy, it does not cover everything.

There is noise and confusion around the election ink, as if a plan is being drawn between the forms, the ballot, and their surroundings.

The real estate market will ignite. In Dahye, it will not be enough.

President Berri is not satisfied with playing; he is not satisfied with playing with politicians, and they will dare to play a little too, even with fate.

The judiciary will play its role.

The treasurer, who handled files and issued rulings, will take action.

She will face turbulence, noise, and a new challenge between the memories of Bashir’s assassination and Sheikh Pierre’s assassination. Events will turn into commemorations on that day.

We will see Holy Spirit University and its president in a stunning, extraordinary, and remarkable way.

It is apparent that this stain did not end with her absence, nor with her death. It seems that on the 22nd of the month, it will repeat, not once.

Hadi and Amine Wahab will appear more vividly in the scene, providing a new experience. On the path of Father Majdi Allawi

An operation targeting Carlos Ghosn will shake public opinion here and there.

Carlos Ghosn will challenge Interpol, Hezbollah, both with and without weapons, with and without money, above ground and underground. The remainder is in place, like a triangle of terror.

Lebanon’s real civil peace is still in discussion.

Judge Mahmoud Makiyeh and Al-Hami will handle one of the largest files in Amal Movement’s busy calendar.

With surprises coming, there will be white days and black days, heads flying, heads covered. Every surprise will be random and varied.

MP Al-Baarini will take over the screens.

A ledger of accounts and diverse rulings will carry the names Tom Bark and Tom Harb, ready to explode.

The name George Khabbaz will appear in a golden rank, shining brightly.

The actor Adel Karam’s name will also surface.

Mouin Al-Sharayef will continue to resist with his voice, as long as his voice finds an echo.

Marcel and George Ghanem are already here now; whatever was hidden in time is theirs.

There will be transformations in Majida Al-Roumi’s life, increasing his legacy, gaining a new kind of audience.

Lebanese fashion designers will win the most important international awards.

The picture does not lie, and an old face is set to return and shine.

A popular scene reminiscent of 2019 will appear.

A Lebanese club or gym will change its identity temporarily due to a reaction – this time, the attempt will succeed.

A member of the diplomatic corps, of ambassadorial rank, will be targetted.

The countdown between President Joseph Aoun and Prince Mohammad Basman will begin, a period of waiting.

There will be a series of arrests and investigations outside Lebanon involving multiple Lebanese banking figures.

A connection to the financial world is being solidified.

The idea of Trump visiting Lebanon is taking shape.

Faisal Karameh will replace the chef and renew his political kitchen.

Beirut airport and its surroundings will be off-limits to some people.

It will seem as if the event chose Qasr Al-Sanoubar itself.

Sanctions will join criminal investigations and full audits.

Large companies will be targeted, and rumors will ignite the file.

Talk will rise and fall around it.

MP Ali Hassan Khalil intends to confront with both hands.

A shocking and unusual surprise awaits President Joseph Aoun from Sweden and from America.

Abu Abdo—both of them—will untangle the upcoming issues.

The shock will be positive.

The conflict within the Hariri family will quietly re-enter the scene, without any visible reaction.

The First Lady will win the challenge, at the expense of her security and health.

The media, which mourns many points of the oath, will discover it acted hastily and will rush to correct the items it initially damaged.

Everyone’s will will converge to focus on what was previously neglected.

Lebanese women’s sporting ambitions will lift them to the peaks, achieving victory after victory.

There will be a security breach in Roumieh prison, but most of those targeted are non-Lebanese.

The revenge saga from political analysts will begin.

A delivery element will fail to reach its destination this time, becoming the centerpiece of a crime.

Speaker Berri will not be able to protect his financial immunity.

The party’s allocated aid will surprise everyone with its generosity.

Lebanese champions in Italian games will aggressively go for the trophies and medals.

A shocking event awaits one of the heroes.

The Lebanese coast will witness a terrifying maritime revenge.

When the earth breathes in Lebanon, our breath will be taken away.

The Lebanese Parliament will ignite in multiple areas, both inside and outside the Court of Audit, where others dare not tread, across several files resembling the last communications file.

A house will impersonate multiple characters and move deftly.

The Shura Council’s decision will mix things up, overturn standards, and stir the streets.

A thin yet strong thread connects the Presidential Palace and the nearby districts, unbroken.

No matter what, we have yet to see the images.

Round trip flight Dahye – Riyad – Riyad – Dahye.

A magic operation will target President Aoun and his family.

Lebanese restaurants will shine and excel in Lebanon, expanding to France, London, and other European countries.

I see crowded scenes, bustling from above Metn.

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