Kamel Asaad
Encyclopedia
Kamel El Assaad or Kamel Al Assaad (1932 – 25 July 2010) was a Lebanese politician.
Coming from a large feudal family from southern Lebanon
, he held the title of "Bakaweit" (title of nobility plural of "Beik" granted to a few wealthy families in Lebanon in the early eighteenth century). He replaced his father Ahmed al-Asaad
in early 1960 as Deputy of Bint Jbeil, and then held the parliamentary seat of Hasbaya-Marjayoun from 1964 and 1992. His father, Ahmed al-Asaad
, preceded his son as speaker of the Lebanese Parliament from June 1951 to May 1953.
He served as president of the Lebanese Parliament several times, May to October 1964, May to October 1968, with his final stint from 1970 to 1984. Assaad chaired the parliamentary sessions, which saw the election of presidents Elias Sarkis
, his close friend Bachir Gemayel
, and Amine Gemayel
.
Kamel El Assaad left politics in 1984 after Syria's intervention in Lebanon's internal political policies related to the ratification of the Agreement of May 17, 1984, between Israel
and Lebanon
, and the period of political crisis which followed.
Kamel El Assaad was president of the Lebanese Social Democratic Party.
Assad later ran for public office but failed to get elected in the Lebanese elections in 1992, 1996 and 2000, in the face of pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian political groups, and called for a boycott of the elections in 2005.
Coming from a moderate Shiite family, Assaad's views politically strained relations with the more extreme pro-Syrian Amal
and pro-Iranian Hezbollah factions which later appeared in the Lebanese government.
Al-Assaad's son, Ahmad al-Assaad, was a candidate for a seat in the Lebanese Parliament in the elections of 2009.
Kamel al-Assaad died July 25, 2010, at the age of 78.
Coming from a large feudal family from southern Lebanon
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...
, he held the title of "Bakaweit" (title of nobility plural of "Beik" granted to a few wealthy families in Lebanon in the early eighteenth century). He replaced his father Ahmed al-Asaad
Ahmed al-Asaad
Ahmad al-Asaad or Ahmad al-As'ad was Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament from June 5, 1951 till May 30, 1953. His son Kamel Asaad, was speaker for three terms.-References:...
in early 1960 as Deputy of Bint Jbeil, and then held the parliamentary seat of Hasbaya-Marjayoun from 1964 and 1992. His father, Ahmed al-Asaad
Ahmed al-Asaad
Ahmad al-Asaad or Ahmad al-As'ad was Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament from June 5, 1951 till May 30, 1953. His son Kamel Asaad, was speaker for three terms.-References:...
, preceded his son as speaker of the Lebanese Parliament from June 1951 to May 1953.
He served as president of the Lebanese Parliament several times, May to October 1964, May to October 1968, with his final stint from 1970 to 1984. Assaad chaired the parliamentary sessions, which saw the election of presidents Elias Sarkis
Elias Sarkis
Elias Sarkis was the President of the Lebanese Republic 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...
, his close friend Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel was a Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect...
, and 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...
.
Kamel El Assaad left politics in 1984 after Syria's intervention in Lebanon's internal political policies related to the ratification of the Agreement of May 17, 1984, between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Lebanon
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...
, and the period of political crisis which followed.
Kamel El Assaad was president of the Lebanese Social Democratic Party.
Assad later ran for public office but failed to get elected in the Lebanese elections in 1992, 1996 and 2000, in the face of pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian political groups, and called for a boycott of the elections in 2005.
Coming from a moderate Shiite family, Assaad's views politically strained relations with the more extreme pro-Syrian Amal
Amal Movement
Amal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
and pro-Iranian Hezbollah factions which later appeared in the Lebanese government.
Al-Assaad's son, Ahmad al-Assaad, was a candidate for a seat in the Lebanese Parliament in the elections of 2009.
Kamel al-Assaad died July 25, 2010, at the age of 78.