**The Future of Hezbollah: Hassan Nasrallah’s Potential Successors**
The announcement of the death of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s iconic leader, has raised sudden questions about his succession within the Shiite party. While the disappearance of many historical commanders has reduced the pool of candidates, two figures are emerging as serious contenders for the leadership of the movement: Hashem Safieddine and Naim Qassem.
Hashem Safieddine, Hassan Nasrallah’s maternal cousin, is positioning himself as the main candidate to take over. This cleric with a black turban, a symbol of his direct descent from the Prophet Mohammad, has long been seen as Nasrallah’s designated successor. As head of the party’s executive council, Safieddine has accumulated extensive experience in the political, financial, administrative and military fields. A theology graduate from the holy city of Qom in Iran, he is known for his doctrinal rigidity, which places him in the intransigent lineage of Hezbollah.
Safieddine’s close ties to Iran reinforce his legitimacy to take over from Nasrallah. Married to a member of the family of Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the Qods Force who died in 2020, he is part of an ideological and strategic continuity with Tehran. If Safieddine accedes to the head of Hezbollah, this could strengthen the already strong relations between the party and its Iranian backer.
On the other hand, Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s current deputy secretary general, also presents himself as a potential successor. Although lacking extensive military experience, Qassem embodies the religious conservative wing of the movement, in opposition to Safieddine. His close proximity to Nasrallah and his anchoring in the political and ideological apparatus of the party make him a legitimate candidate for the leadership of Hezbollah.
The procedure for designating Nasrallah’s successor will rest on the members of the Shura, Hezbollah’s consultative council. Despite the security challenges posed by Nasrallah’s disappearance, individual votes will allow for a democratic transition, although probably slow.
In short, Hassan Nasrallah’s succession marks a major turning point for Hezbollah, which will have to navigate between ideological continuity and strategic renewal. While Safieddine and Qassem emerge as the main contenders, the final decision will rest on an internal democratic process, revealing the power stakes within the Shiite party.
This transition of power, coupled with the loss of experience following the disappearance of Hezbollah’s historical figures, marks the beginning of a new era for the movement. Rebuilding and strategically reorienting the party will take time and adjustments, underscoring the challenges and opportunities that await Hezbollah in the post-Nasrallah era.