Charles Rizk
Encyclopedia
Charles Rizk born in Beirut
in 1935, is a Lebanese
Maronite politician. A student at the prestigious Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
, Rizk began his political career as an aide to President Fuad Chehab
. Rizk was Lebanon's representative at the Francophonie and head of the national information agency.
In July 2005, new Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
controversially appointed Rizk as Justice minister, a post claimed by Michel Aoun and also by Saad Hariri
. The appointment of Rizk, a man close to Lahoud, was opposed as it was felt that the investigation into the murder of Rafik Hariri
would be unlikely to be pursued vigorously by a pro-Lahoud minister.
Rizk silenced critics by giving the investigation his support, and supporting the establishment of the international investigation led by Serge Brammertz
.
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...
in 1935, is a Lebanese
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...
Maronite politician. A student at the prestigious Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
, Rizk began his political career as an aide to President Fuad Chehab
Fuad Chehab
Fuad Chehab Fuad Chehab Fuad Chehab (name also spelt Fouad Shihab, or Chehab, depending on transliteration from the original Arabic, (March 19, 1902 - April 25, 1973) was the President of the Lebanese Republic from 1958 to 1964...
. Rizk was Lebanon's representative at the Francophonie and head of the national information agency.
In July 2005, new Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
Fouad Siniora
Fuad Siniora is a Lebanese politician, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he held from 19 July 2005 to May 25, 2008 the date of the election of the new President of Lebanon; he was renominated to the post on 28 May 2008 and held the post as Acting President between those...
controversially appointed Rizk as Justice minister, a post claimed by Michel Aoun and also by Saad Hariri
Saad Hariri
Saad-eddine Rafiq Al-Hariri is a Saudi-Lebanese billionaire who served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2009 until 2011. He is the second son of Rafiq Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister who was assassinated in 2005...
. The appointment of Rizk, a man close to Lahoud, was opposed as it was felt that the investigation into the murder of Rafik Hariri
Rafik Hariri
Rafic Baha El Deen Al-Hariri , was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004.He headed five cabinets during his tenure...
would be unlikely to be pursued vigorously by a pro-Lahoud minister.
Rizk silenced critics by giving the investigation his support, and supporting the establishment of the international investigation led by Serge Brammertz
Serge Brammertz
Serge Brammertz is a Belgian jurist, and the prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.Brammertz was deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Court from 2002 to 2007...
.