List of Presidents

of Lebanon

The president is largely a ceremonial and symbolic

post. Never less, the president is still able to

exercise influence on policy making and has the

role, in conjunction with the prime minister, of

choosing ministers in the Government and

safeguarding the constitution.

President of the

Lebanese Republic

Presidential Seal Michel Aoun

Style His/Her Excellency

Residence Baabda Palace

Appointer Parliament

Term length 6 years

Inaugural holder Bechara El Khoury

22 November 1943

Formation Constitution of Lebanon

23 May 1926

Website Presidency of the Lebanese Republic

Contents

1.National Pact

2.Presidents

2.1State of Greater Lebanon, part of the French

Mandate (1926–1943)

2.2Lebanese Republic (1943–present)

3.Living former Presidents

National Pact

Though it is not specifically stated in the constitution, an

unwritten understanding known as the National Pact,

agreed in 1943, has resulted in the holder of the post being

a Maronite Christian in every electoral cycle since that

time. This agreement had to be suspended three times, when

three Sunni Muslims, the Prime Ministers had to step in as

Acting Presidents, Selim Hoss in 1988, Fouad Siniora in

2007 and Tammam Salam in 2014.

Qualifications

The constitution requires the president hold the same qualifications as a member

of Parliament (also called the Chamber of Deputies), which are Lebanese citizenship and

attainment of the age of twenty-one .[3]

Though not specifically stated in the constitution, an understanding known as

the National Pact, agreed in 1943 fo srebmem ot eciffo eht stimil yliramotsuc ,

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tnediserP naitsirhC etinoraM s'nonabeLyruohK lE arahceB emirP milsuM innuS sih dna

retsiniMhloS lA daiR ni dehcaer saw hcihw ,1943 tnednepedni emaceb nonabeL nehw ,

etinoraM a eb ot saw cilbupeR eht fo tnediserP eht taht debircsed dna ,ecnarF fo

a retsiniM emirP eht ,naitsirhCmilsuM innuSa tnemailraP fo rekaepS eht dna , aihS

milsuM.[4]

Article 50 of the constitution of Lebanon requires the president to take an oath upon

assuming office, which is prescribed thus ]

“ I swear by Almighty God to observe the

Constitution and the laws of the Lebanese

Nation and to maintain the independence of

Lebanon and its territorial integrity.

Oath:

State Of Greater Lebanon, part of the French Mandate (1926–1943)

№ PortraitName

(Birth–Death)Took office Left office Political party Note(s)

1

Charles Debbas

–1885)شارل دباس

1935)

1 September 1926 2 January 1934 Independent —

—

Antoine Privat-

Aubouard

أنطوان أوبوار

2 January 1934 30 January 1934 Independent —

2

Habib Pacha Es-Saad

–1867)حبيب باشا السعد

1942)

30 January 1934 20 January 1936 Independent —

3Émile Eddé

(1949–1886)إميل أده20 January 1936 4 April 1941 National Bloc —

—

Pierre-Georges

Arlabosse

بيار جورج أرالبوس

4 April 1941 9 April 1941 Independent —

4

Alfred Georges

Naccache

ألفرد جورج

(1978–1887)النقاش

9 April 1941 18 March 1943 Kataeb Party —

—

Ayoub Tabet

–1884)أيوب ثابت

1951)

19 March 1943 21 July 1943 Independent —

5

Petro Trad

–1876)بيترو طراد

1947)

22 July 1943 21 September 1943 Independent —

6

Bechara Khoury

–1890)بشارة الخوري

1964)

21 September 1943 11 November 1943 Constitutional Party —

Lebanese Republic (1943–present)[edit]

№ PortraitName

(Birth–Death)Took office Left office Political party Note(s)

—Émile Eddé

(1949–1886)إميل أده

11 November

1943

22 November

1943National Bloc —

6Bechara Khoury

(1964–1890)بشارة الخوري

22 November

1943

18 September

1952

Constitutional

Party—

—Fuad Chehab

(1973–1902)فؤاد شهاب

18 September

1952

22 September

1952Independent —

7Camille Chamoun

(1987–1900)كميل شمعون

23 September

1952

22 September

1958

National Liberal

Party—

8Fuad Chehab

(1973–1902)فؤاد شهاب

23 September

1958

22 September

1964Independent

Chehab

served as

the Comman

der of the

Lebanese

Armed

Forces from

1945 to 1958.

9Charles Helou

(2001–1913)شارل حلو

23 September

1964

22 September

1970Chehabist —

0Suleiman Frangieh

(1992–1910)سليمان فرنجية

23 September

1970

22 September

1976

Marada

Movement—

11Elias Sarkis

(1985–1924)إلياس سركيس

23 September

1976

22 September

1982Chehabist —

(-)Bachir Gemayel

(1982–1947)بشير الجميل

23 August

1982

14 September

1982Kataeb Party

Gemayel was assassinated

prior to taking office, during

the Lebanese Civil War.

1

2

Amine Gemayel

(–1942)أمين الجميل

23 September

1982

22 September

1988Kataeb Party Brother of Bachir Gemayel.

—Selim Hoss

(–1929)سليم الحص

22 September

1988

5 November

1989Independent

Disputed: Dismissal as prime

minister on 22 September

1988 contested.

—Michel Aoun

(–1935)ميشال عون

22 September

1988

23 October

1990Military

Disputed: Appointment as

prime minister on 22

September 1988 contested.

3René Moawad

(1989–1925)رينيه معوض5 November 1989 22 November 1989 Independence Movement

Moawad was assassinated during

the Lebanese Civil War.

—Selim Hoss

(–1929)سليم الحص22 November 1989 24 November 1989 Independent —

1

4

Elias Hrawi

(2006–1926)إلياس الهراوي24 November 1989 24 November 1998 Independent —

1

5

Émile Lahoud

(–1936)إميل لحود24 November 1998 24 November 2007 Independent

Lahoud served as the Commander of

the Lebanese Armed Forces from

1989 to 1998.

—Fouad Siniora

(–1943)فؤاد السنيورة24 November 2007 25 May 2008

Future Movement

(March 14 Alliance)—

1

6

Michel Suleiman

(–1948)ميشال سليمان25 May 2008 25 May 2014 Independent

Suleiman served as the Commander of

the Lebanese Armed Forces from

1998 to 2008.

—Tammam Salam

(–1945)تّمام سالم25 May 2014 31 October 2016 Independent —

1

7

Michel Aoun

(–1935)ميشال عون31 October 2016 Incumbent Free Patriotic Movement —

Living former Presidents

Name Term of office Date of birth Political party

Amine

Gemayel1982–1988

22 January

1942 (age 74)Kataeb Party

Émile Lahoud 1998–200712 January

1936 (age 80)Independent

Michel

Suleiman2008–2014

21 November

1948 (age 67)Independent