Elias Sarkis
Encyclopedia
Elias Sarkis was the President of the Lebanese Republic
from 1976 to 1982.
, and in 1962 he became General Manager for Presidential Matters. Following the Intrabank Crisis of 1968, Sarkis was appointed Governor of the Bank of Lebanon
.
, he was defeated by Suleiman Frangieh
by a single vote. He was, however, elected President on 8 May 1976, while the Lebanese Civil War
was raging. With Syrian forces
occupying two thirds of the country and private militias much of the rest, his power was limited. Just before the end of his presidency in 1982, Israel
invaded southern Lebanon in the 1982 Lebanon War
and had advanced to the outskirts of Beirut
.
, who was elected President on 21 August 1982, but Gemayel was assassinated 21 days before he was due to take office. Amine Gemayel
, Bachir's brother, was subsequently elected in his stead, and Sarkis handed the presidency over to him on 23 September. Sarkis died in Switzerland
in 1985, at the age of 61.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
from 1976 to 1982.
Early career
Born in Shabbaniah, Sarkis graduated with a Law degree from Saint Joseph University in 1948. After joining the judicial corps in 1953, he became a judge with the Accounting Department. During the presidency of Fouad Chehab, he was appointed Judicial Manager at the presidential palace in BaabdaBaabda
Baabda is the capital city of Baabda District as well as the capital of Mount Lebanon Governorate, western Lebanon. Baabda was the capital city of the autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon....
, and in 1962 he became General Manager for Presidential Matters. Following the Intrabank Crisis of 1968, Sarkis was appointed Governor of the Bank of Lebanon
Banque du Liban
Banque du Liban is the central bank of Lebanon. It was established on August 1, 1963 and became fully operational on April 1, 1964. It is currently headed by Riad Salameh, who was named the Middle East's best central bank governor by Euromoney in 2005....
.
Presidency
Sarkis contested the presidential election of 1970 as Chehab's protégé and was expected to win, but owing to a last-minute change of mind by several National Assembly members aligned to Kamal JumblattKamal Jumblatt
Kamal Jumblatt ; was an important Lebanese politician. He was the main leader of the anti-government forces in the Lebanese Civil War until his assassination in 1977. He is the father of the present Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.-Family background and education:Kamal Jumblatt was born in...
, he was defeated by Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Kabalan Frangieh, last name also spelled Frangié, Franjieh, or Franjiyeh , was President of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976...
by a single vote. He was, however, elected President on 8 May 1976, while the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
was raging. With Syrian forces
Military of Syria
The Syrian Armed Forces are the military forces of Syria. They consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force.-Manpower:The President of Syria is the commander in chief of the Syrian armed forces, comprising some 646,500 troops upon mobilization. The military is a conscripted force;...
occupying two thirds of the country and private militias much of the rest, his power was limited. Just before the end of his presidency in 1982, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
invaded southern Lebanon in the 1982 Lebanon War
1982 Lebanon War
The 1982 Lebanon War , , called Operation Peace for Galilee by Israel, and later known in Israel as the Lebanon War and First Lebanon War, began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon...
and had advanced to the outskirts of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Succession
Sarkis was to be succeeded by Bachir GemayelBachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel was a Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect...
, who was elected President on 21 August 1982, but Gemayel was assassinated 21 days before he was due to take office. Amine Gemayel
Amine Gemayel
Amine Pierre Gemayel was President of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988 and is the leader of Kataeb Party.Born in the Lebanese village of Bikfaya, Amine Gemayel is the son of Pierre Gemayel, founder of the Kataeb Party...
, Bachir's brother, was subsequently elected in his stead, and Sarkis handed the presidency over to him on 23 September. Sarkis died in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1985, at the age of 61.