Georges Saadeh
Encyclopedia
Georges Saadeh (November 21, 1930 – November 17, 1998) was a Lebanese
politician. He was appointed as a minister in several governments and was the head of Kataeb party
for twelve years.
. He was the third child of a poor Maronite family of six boys. His father was a cavalier in the Lebanese Interior Security Forces. He studied Arabic literature
at the Lebanese Academy for Fine Arts and then graduated with a PhD from the Salamanca University in Spain
.
at the age of 15 and after his return from Spain he became Pierre Gemayel
's advisor. Georges Saadeh became one of the Kataeb's most acclaimed orators. He was still an employee in the Lebanese Ministry of Education when the party asked him to run for the Batroun legislative election in 1968. That same year he won the elections and graduated from Law school.
He was an MP in Parliament Caza of Batroun from 1968 until 1992, when he boycotted the 1992 parliamentary elections.
In 1986, Georges Saadeh became the head of the Kataeb Party after winning the elections over Dr Elie Karameh. He was supported by Pierre Gemayel's first camarades "the old guard" and by Samir Geagea
's Lebanese Forces
. He was head of the Kataeb Party from 1986 till his death in 1998 and head of the Lebanese Front
after the death of the President of Lebanon H.E Camille Chamoun
. He was the main collaborator of president elect H.E. Bashir Gemayel and he was elected to the second tour of the 1989 Presidential Elections.
He held several ministerial positions: Minister of planning government of Saeb Salam in 1972, Minister of transportation and public works government of Rachid El Solh 1974 and
Minister of telecommunication government of Salim El Hoss in 1989, of Rachid Karami in 1990, of Rachid El Solh in 1990.
In 1989, Georges Saadeh became the Christian
leader and supporter of the Taif Agreement
. He was the subject of an attempted assassination by a car bomb
in 1989 in Furn El Chebbak.
Georges Saadeh, died at the age of 68 leaving behind a wife, Lily El Khazen and 3 children: Samer (now a member of Parliament representing the Kataeb Party parliamentarian bloc), Myra and Rami. His son Samer decided to pursue his political work.
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...
politician. He was appointed as a minister in several governments and was the head of Kataeb party
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
for twelve years.
Early life and education
Saadeh was born in Chabtine, a small village in the caza of BatrounBatroun
The coastal city of Batroun located in northern Lebanon is one of the oldest cities of the world. Batroun is home to a Lebanese Red Cross First Aid Center.- Etymology :...
. He was the third child of a poor Maronite family of six boys. His father was a cavalier in the Lebanese Interior Security Forces. He studied Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
at the Lebanese Academy for Fine Arts and then graduated with a PhD from the Salamanca University in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Political career
He entered the Kataeb PartyKataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
at the age of 15 and after his return from Spain he became Pierre Gemayel
Pierre Gemayel
Sheikh Pierre Gemayel , was a Lebanese political leader...
's advisor. Georges Saadeh became one of the Kataeb's most acclaimed orators. He was still an employee in the Lebanese Ministry of Education when the party asked him to run for the Batroun legislative election in 1968. That same year he won the elections and graduated from Law school.
He was an MP in Parliament Caza of Batroun from 1968 until 1992, when he boycotted the 1992 parliamentary elections.
In 1986, Georges Saadeh became the head of the Kataeb Party after winning the elections over Dr Elie Karameh. He was supported by Pierre Gemayel's first camarades "the old guard" and by Samir Geagea
Samir Geagea
Samir Farid Geagea , born October 25, 1952, is a Lebanese politician. He is also a senior figure in the March 14 Alliance, alongside Saad Hariri and Amine Gemayel....
's Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
. He was head of the Kataeb Party from 1986 till his death in 1998 and head of the Lebanese Front
Lebanese Front
The Lebanese Front or Front libanais in French, also known as the "Kufur Front", was a coalition of mainly Christian parties formed in 1976, during the Lebanese Civil War...
after the death of the President of Lebanon H.E Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
. He was the main collaborator of president elect H.E. Bashir Gemayel and he was elected to the second tour of the 1989 Presidential Elections.
He held several ministerial positions: Minister of planning government of Saeb Salam in 1972, Minister of transportation and public works government of Rachid El Solh 1974 and
Minister of telecommunication government of Salim El Hoss in 1989, of Rachid Karami in 1990, of Rachid El Solh in 1990.
In 1989, Georges Saadeh became the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
leader and supporter of the Taif Agreement
Taif Agreement
The Taif Agreement was an agreement reached to provide "the basis for the ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon." Negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the decades-long Lebanese civil war, politically accommodate the demographic...
. He was the subject of an attempted assassination by a car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
in 1989 in Furn El Chebbak.
Death and legacy
In 1998 he wrote his book My story with the Taif Agreement in which he decided to divulge the secrets of the controversial agreement today acclaimed. He didn't live to see the distribution of his book, he died of cancer on November 17, 1998. His elder son was in charge of the book's distribution.Georges Saadeh, died at the age of 68 leaving behind a wife, Lily El Khazen and 3 children: Samer (now a member of Parliament representing the Kataeb Party parliamentarian bloc), Myra and Rami. His son Samer decided to pursue his political work.