Tammam Salam Explained

Tammam Salam
Office:Prime Minister of Lebanon
Deputy:Samir Mouqbel
Term Start:15 February 2014
Term End:18 December 2016
Net Worth:963 Million Dollars
Predecessor:Najib Mikati
Successor:Saad Hariri
Primeminister1:Himself
Term Start1:25 May 2014
Term End1:31 October 2016
Predecessor1:Michel Suleiman
Successor1:Michel Aoun
Office2:Minister of Culture
Primeminister2:Fouad Siniora
Term Start2:11 July 2008
Term End2:9 November 2009
Predecessor2:Tarek Mitri
Successor2:Salim Wardeh
Birth Date:13 May 1945
Birth Place:Beirut, Lebanon
Net Worth:$593 Million
Party:Future Movement
Father:Saeb Salam
Spouse:Lama Badreddine
Children:3
Alma Mater:Haigazian University

Tammam Saeb Salam (Arabic: تمّام صائب سلام, pronounced as /ar/; born 13 May 1945) is a Lebanese politician who was the Prime Minister of Lebanon from February 2014 until December 2016. He also served as the acting President of Lebanon from May 2014 until October 2016 in his capacity as prime minister. He previously served in the government of Lebanon as minister of culture from 2008 to 2009.

Salam was tasked with forming a new government on 6 April 2013. He was one of the independent Sunni politicians.[1] He was close to the March 14 Alliance, and had good relations with the March 8 Alliance.[2] Salam was appointed Prime Minister on 15 February 2014.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Early life and education

Salam was born into a prominent and politically powerful Sunni family in Beirut on 13 May 1945.[7] He is the eldest son of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Saeb Salam, who held the office several times since independence.[8] [9] [10] His mother, Tamima Mardam Beik, is of Syrian origin and hails from Damascus.[11] [12] His grandfather, Salim Ali Salam, was one of the Lebanese officials who served during the Ottoman era and French era.[13] More specifically, he served as a Beirut deputy in the Ottoman parliament and was also the head of the Beirut municipality. Tammam Salam has two older sisters and two younger brothers.[14]

Tammam Salam is a graduate of Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais and Haigazian University in Beirut.[15] He also holds an economics and management degree which he received in England.[16]

Early careers

Salam began his career as a businessman after graduation.[15] He joined the political field at the beginning of the 1970s.[15] He established the Pioneers of Reform Movement (Arabic: حركة روّاد الإصلاح) in 1973.[17] The objective of the movement was to follow a moderate policy in the middle of the turmoil in the country.[17] On the other hand, the movement was also regarded as the private militia group of Salam's father, Saeb Salam.[18] However, the movement was dissolved by Tammam Salam at the initial phase of the Lebanese civil war in order to avoid being part of the militant activities.[15]

In 1978, he joined the Makassed foundation, a non-profit charity organization in Beirut as a board member.[15] He became its president in 1982.[19] The leadership of the foundation was passed through generations in the Salam family.[20] [21] Tammam Salam resigned as president of the Foundation in September 2000.[22] He is currently the honorary president of the Foundation.[11] Later, he also became the head of the Saeb Salam Foundation for culture and higher education.[23]

Later politics

In the general elections of 1992, Salam was a candidate, but later he withdrew his candidacy as a protest over the Syrian dominance in Lebanon.[24] [25] His boycott aimed at supporting the Lebanese Christians in an attempt to preserve the sectarian balance in the country.[26] Salam was first elected to the parliament in the 1996 elections from Beirut as an independent candidate.[27] However Salam lost his seat in the general elections held in 2000.[28] [29] He did not run for office in the 2005 general elections.[30]

He was appointed minister of culture in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on 11 July 2008.[31] [32] Salam also won his seat in the general elections held in 2009.[33] He entered an electoral alliance with Saad Hariri and became part of his list in Beirut's third district.[34] [35] Salam was an independent member of the Lebanese parliament.[36] [37] In addition, he was part of the Lebanon First bloc in the parliament,[38] [39] but not a member of any political party, making him a centrist figure.[40]

On 30 September 2015 President Tammam Salam addressed the United Nations General Assembly during general debates, attended other events both within the UN and beyond, met with various world leaders.[41]

Premiership

Following the resignation of Najib Mikati as prime minister on 23 March 2013, Salam was designated as a consensus Prime Minister.[42] The 14 March Alliance officially nominated Salam as prime minister.[43] Salam was tasked with forming a government on 6 April 2013 after garnering 124 votes out of 128 parliament members.[44] [45] [46] On 15 February 2014, he announced the formation of a new government of 24 ministers.[3]

In 2014, Salam became the acting president after the Parliament failed to elected a new one to succeed Michel Suleiman. Two years later, Michel Aoun was elected an took office, which led to his resignation and the forming of a new government.[47]

Views

Following the assassination of Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005, Salam said "Playing with emotions is a very dangerous game in Lebanon, a game which Hariri himself never subscribed to." referring to mass demonstrations blaming Syria for the assassination in the country.[48]

Personal life

Salam is married to Lama Badreddine and has three children from a previous marriage.[11] [16]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Sami Moubayed. Sami Moubayed. Nasrallah and the three Lebanons. Asia Times Online. 3 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060813101303/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH03Ak01.html. unfit. 13 August 2006.
  2. News: Reuters. Hezbollah bloc to back Salam for Lebanon premier. 5 April 2013.
  3. News: Lebanese PM unveils national unity cabinet. Al Jazeera. 15 February 2014. 28 May 2023.
  4. News: Lebanon Forms a Cabinet After 11 Months of Deadlock. The New York Times. 15 February 2014. 28 May 2023.
  5. News: Lebanon Cabinet formed after 10-month stalemate. USA Today. 15 February 2014. 28 May 2023.
  6. News: Lebanon forms new government after months of political deadlock. The Guardian. 15 February 2014. 28 May 2023.
  7. Book: R. Hrair Dekmejian. 1975 . Patterns of Political Leadership: Egypt, Israel, Lebanon. SUNY Press. 978-0-87395-291-0. 5. Albany, NY.
  8. Sami Moubayed. From Father to Son in Beiruti Politics. Mid East Views. n.d..
  9. Ranwa Yehia. Salam bid farewell. Al Ahram Weekly. 27 January – 2 February 2000. 466.
  10. News: Hussein Dakroub. Salam emerges as Lebanon's next PM. The Daily Star. 5 April 2013. Beirut.
  11. News: Lebanon names Salam as prime minister. The Guardian. 6 April 2013. Associated Press.
  12. News: Bassem Mroue. Lebanon Names UK-Educated Lawmaker Prime Minister. ABC News. 5 April 2013. AP.
  13. News: Lebanon's March 14 camp endorses PM candidate. Al Jazeera. 5 April 2013.
  14. News: Joseph A. Kéchichian. One Lebanon was his vision. Gulf News. 9 May 2008. Joseph A. Kéchichian.
  15. News: Wassim Mroueh. Salam: Form, role of government more important than its head. The Daily Star. 5 April 2013.
  16. News: Consensus builds on new Lebanon PM Tamam Salam. Ahram Online. 5 April 2013. AFP.
  17. Book: Political Parties of the Middle East and North Africa. 1994. Greenwood Press. Westport, CT. 342. 9780313266492. Frank Tachau.
  18. Book: Lebanon's Predicament. 1987. Columbia University Press. New York. 91. Samir Khalaf. 9780231063784.
  19. News: Profiles: Lebanon's new government. Lebanon Wire. 12 July 2008. 11 May 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130511134105/http://www.lebanonwire.com/0807MLN/08071201LW.asp.
  20. News: Families, not parties, dominate Lebanese politics. The Courier. 11 February 1983. AP. Beirut.
  21. News: Hania Mourtada. Tamam Salam Asked to Form a Government in Lebanon. The New York Times. 7 April 2013.
  22. News: Salam heaps praise on Makassed. The Daily Star. 12 September 2000.
  23. Web site: Speakers. Arab Women Forum. 15–16 October 2009. 5 April 2013. 19 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151219190323/http://www.iktissadevents.com/events/NAWF/3/panelists. dead.
  24. News: How Tammam Salam Became a Consensual Candidate. Moulahazat. 5 April 2013.
  25. News: Many Lebanese back polls boycott. 30 August 1992. New Straits Times.
  26. News: Lebanon's Salam - consensus premier for tough times. Al Arabiya. 6 April 2013.
  27. News: Saeb Salam, 95, Former Lebanese Prime Minister. The New York Times. 23 January 2000.
  28. News: Murr Releases Official Results of Lebanon's Second Round of Elections. Al Bawaba. 5 September 2000.
  29. Ranwa Yehia. A 'Future' premier. Al Ahram Weekly. 7–13 September 2000. 498. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120129011930/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/498/re1.htm. 29 January 2012.
  30. News: Saad Hariri pledges to contest elections within opposition ranks. Lebanonwire. 10 May 2005. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130321150225/http://lebanonwire.com/0505/05051001LW.asp. 21 March 2013.
  31. News: Meet the government. https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013420/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/nowspecials/meet_the_government. dead. 5 October 2013. Now Lebanon. 11 July 2008.
  32. News: Backgrounder: Lebanon's new cabinet line-up. Xinhua Daily. 11 July 2008. Beirut. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221220235/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/12/content_8532078.htm. 21 February 2014. dmy-all.
  33. News: Saudi envoy calls for cabinet formed 'inside Lebanon'. https://archive.today/20130413152617/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/Jul/14/Saudi-envoy-calls-for-cabinet-formed-inside-Lebanon.ashx%23axzz2OjxMTCk2. dead. 13 April 2013. The Daily Star. 14 July 2009.
  34. News: Therese Sfeir. Hariri vows Future Movement 'will follow path of peace'. The Daily Star. 8 May 2009.
  35. News: Sami Moubayed. Hezbollah handed a stinging defeat. Asia Times Online. 9 June 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090611052017/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KF09Ak03.html. unfit. 11 June 2009.
  36. News: Salam says Sunnite sect would not fight with other sects. NNA. 21 March 2013.
  37. News: How MPs will vote. 27 March 2013. Now Lebanon. dead. 20 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130520025603/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/how-mps-will-vote.
  38. News: Elie Hajj. Tammam Salam Likely March 14 Candidate for Lebanese Premier. Al-Monitor. 4 April 2013.
  39. News: Salam supports a technocratic cabinet. Now Lebanon. 28 January 2011. dead. 6 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160206011150/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/nownews/salam_supports_a_technocratic_cabinet_1.
  40. Paul Salem. Lebanon Averts Crisis but New Prime Minister Faces Major Challenges. Carnegie Middle East. 10 April 2013.
  41. Web site: Addressing UN, Lebanese Prime Minister calls on world powers to end 'ongoing massacres'. 30 September 2015. UN News.
  42. News: Tammam Salam Meets Hariri, Prince Bandar. Naharnet. 4 April 2013.
  43. News: Hariri led group nominates Salam as PM. Turkish Weekly Journal. 5 April 2013. Beirut. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221195853/http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/148723/hariri-led-group-nominates-salam-as-pm.html. 21 February 2014.
  44. News: Adam Pletts. Tammam Salam named new Lebanese prime minister. France 24. 6 April 2013.
  45. News: Tammam Salam named new Lebanese PM. Xinhua. 6 April 2013. Beirut. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130410041457/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-04/06/c_132288109.htm. 10 April 2013.
  46. News: Lebanon names Tammam Salam as new prime minister. BBC. 6 April 2013.
  47. News: 18 December 2016. Declaration of New Cabinet: 30 Ministers, 5 Innovative Ministries. National News Agency of Lebanon.
  48. Omayma Abdel Latif. What next, Lebanon?. Al Ahram Weekly. 3–9 March 2005. 732. dead. 25 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130325061659/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/732/re5.htm.

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