Pierre Bou Assi Explained

Pierre Bou Assi
Office:Minister of Social Affairs
Primeminister:Saad Hariri
Cabinet:Hariri II
Term Start:18 December 2016
Term End:31 January 2019
Birth Name:Pierre Rachid Bou Assi
Birth Date:1966
Party:Lebanese Forces
Otherparty:Strong Republic
Native Name:بيار بوعاصي
Native Name Lang:ar
Predecessor:Rashid Derbass
Successor:Richard Kouyoumdjian
Office1:Member of the Lebanese Parliament
Termstart1:15 May 2018
Constituency1:Mount Lebanon III (Baabda District)
Signature:Pierre Bou Assi signature.svg

Pierre Bou Assi (; born 1966) is a Lebanese politician. He currently serves as member of the Lebanese Parliament representing the Baabda District and was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs on 18 December 2016 until 2019.

Early life

Pierre Rachid Bou Assi was born in 1966 in the town of Abdia, Baabda District to a Maronite Christian family. He studied at the Collège Mont La Salle joined the Lebanese Forces party as a student at the Jesuit University in 1985.[1] He left for France where he studied business administration and assumed many jobs including a wine trading company.[2]

Career

In France, Bou Assi helped organize local demonstrations amidst the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. He returned to Lebanon in 2011 and was appointed head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Lebanese Forces party.

After the resignation of Tammam Salam, Aoun designated Saad Hariri to form a new cabinet following binding parliamentary consultations.[3] This came as a result of the consensus that led to the election of Aoun, and it was the second time Hariri held the position. The cabinet consisted of 30 ministers as a national unity government. On 28 December, it won the confidence of the parliament with an 87 MPs majority. Bou Assi was named Minister of Social Affairs.[4]

Bou Assi ran in the 2018 Lebanese elections under the "Baabda Unity & Development" list endorsed by the Lebanese Forces and Progressive Socialist Party. He won with 11,498.[5] He ran again in 2022 under the "Baabda Al Seyada Wal Karar" list and was able to win his seat with 14,756 votes.[6]

During Hezbollah's involvement in the Israel–Hamas war many politicians of long established Christian parties in Lebanon took a stance against Hezbollah's involvement. Pierre Bou Assi criticized the involvement by highlighting the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers which led to the 2006 Lebanon war saying, "Hassan Nasrallah promised, in early July, that the summer would be quiet and thriving—but a few days later, Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and the July war broke out".[7]

Personal life

Pierre Bou Assi is a Maronite Christian. He is married.[8]

References

  1. https://www.pierrebouassi.com/
  2. https://www.lebanese-forces.com/person/politicians-pierre-bou-assi/
  3. News: Cambanis . Thanassis . 31 October 2016 . Michel Aoun Rises to Lebanese Presidency, Ending Power Vacuum . 26 December 2017 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: KUNA : Lebanon announces cabinet line-up under chairmanship of Hariri - Politics - 19/12/2016 . 2024-02-09 . www.kuna.net.kw.
  5. Web site: REPORT: Who are LF candidates for upcoming elections . 2024-02-09 . LBCIV7 . en.
  6. https://www.lorientlejour.com/elections/circonscription/5-mont-liban-iii
  7. Web site: Lebanese Politicians To Hizbullah: Don't Involve Lebanon In A War Against Israel . 6 November 2023 . MEMRI . en.
  8. Web site: Who is the new Minister of Social Affairs Pierre Abi Assi . 2024-02-09 . LBCIV7 . en.