Preceded by Robert Frangieh Name Suleiman Jr. | Constituency Zgharta Parents Tony Frangieh Grandparents Suleiman Frangieh Prime Minister Omar Karame Spouse Rima Karkafi (m. 2003) | |
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Prime Minister See listSaad Hariri (2009-2011)Najib Mikati Prime Minister See listRachid Solh (1992)Rafic Hariri (1992-1998)Selim Hoss (1998-2000)Rafic Hariri (2000-2004)Omar Karami Similar People Tony Frangieh, Suleiman Frangieh, Samir Geagea, Saad Hariri Profiles | ||
Suleiman Tony Frangieh (Arabic: سليمان فرنجيه; born 18 October 1965) is the current leader of the Marada Movement and a Member of Parliament for the Maronite seat of Zgharta-Zawyie, in North Lebanon.
Contents
- Sleiman frangieh politely addressing his civilised supporters
- Early life
- Political career
- Personal life
- References
Sleiman frangieh politely addressing his civilised supporters
Early life
Suleiman was born in Zgharta, Lebanon on 18 October 1965. He is the son of late Tony Frangieh, who was assassinated in the Ehden massacre in 1978, and grandson of the former Lebanese President Suleiman Frangieh and as such, carries his grandfather's name. Samir Frangieh is Suleiman's cousin.
Suleiman Franjieh's grandfather brought him to Syria after the Ehden massacre, which was perpetrated by rival Maronite Kataeb Party militia forces. In Syria, Suleiman was taken under the wing of Bassel Assad, eldest son of the Syrian President. His friendship with the Al Assad family has remained close since then.
Political career
Suleiman Franjieh's military career began when he was 17 years old. In 1982, he became leader of the Marada Brigades. The party disbanded its militia to become a political group following the disbanding of armed militias after the Taif Agreement. Marada began to participate in social, cultural, educational, health and political affairs.
He entered the Parliament for the first time on 7 June 1991 and was then the youngest MP. He was nominated for three successive mandates in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Suleiman Franjieh joined mourners gathered in front of Beirut's city palace to pay his final respects to Rafik Hariri who was killed by a bomb on 14 February 2005. His presence made many uneasy, since it was his ministry that was overseeing the investigation into Hariri's assassination.
During the Lebanese Parliamentary Elections of 7 June 2009, Suleiman Frangieh was elected as a Member of Parliament for the seat of Zgharta-Zawyieh due to a compromise between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Syria (Frangieh known as the first and most favorite surian man in Lebanon). He won the seat along with his two running partners Estephan Douwaihi and Salim Bey Karam. Together, these three politicians, along with the addition of MP Emile Rahme, formed the 'Free and Unified Lebanon' bloc in the Lebanese Parliament.
In August 2012, Frangieh commented on the Syrian civil war stating that the pro-Assad coalition would win the war and gave his full support to the Syrian government. Frangieh also added that he opposes the "negative neutrality" which is "pretending to be neutral while arms are smuggled from Lebanon to Syria". He called the "negative neutrality" a "conspiring against Syria".
Personal life
Suleiman is the father of two children from a first marriage with Marianne Sarkis; Tony (born 1987) and Bassel (born 1992). Suleiman Frangieh has been married to Rima Karkafi since 2003 who gave birth to his daughter Vera (born 2007). He resides in Bnachii, a small town right next to his hometown of Zgharta. He is a close friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.