Gebran Bassil

Gebran Bassil جبران باسيل
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 February 2014
Prime Minister	Tammam Salam
Preceded by	Adnan Mansour
Personal details
Born	21 June 1970 Batroun, Lebanon
Nationality	Lebanese
Political party	Free Patriotic Movement
Alma mater	American University of Beirut
Religion	Maronite Catholic
Website	Official website

Gebran Gerge Bassil (Arabic: جبران جرجي باسيل‎‎; born 21 June 1970) is a Lebanese politician, and as of the 20th of September, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement.

Biography

Bassil was born in a Maronite Christian family. Bassil received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in civil engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1992 and 1993 respectively.^[1] He is a member of a number of associations: the Lebanese Red Cross and Rotary Club of Batroun -Lebanon.^[2]

Bassil was appointed Minister of Communications in the Government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora between July 2008 until November 2009. In November 2009, he took over the Minister of Energy and Water in the government, which is headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Career

Between the years of 1998 and 2005, Gebran Bassil was an activist for various positions in the Free Patriotic Movement in Lebanon. In 2005, he became a candidate in the general elections in the district of Batroun. He didn't succeed at getting elected. From 2005 to 2008, Bassil became the head of the Free Patriotic Movement. He served as the minister of telecommunications in the Lebanese cabinet led by Fouad Siniora from May 2008 to June 2009, and then as the minister of energy in the cabinet headed by Saad Hariri^[1] Bassil lost the general elections held in 2009.^[3] He has been serving as the minister of energy and water in the cabinet headed by Najib Mikati since June 2011, and assumed the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants as of February 2014. ^[4]

Personal life

Bassil and his wife Chantale Michel Aoun have three children.^[5] His father in law is the current Lebanese president (October 31st, 2016-) and the former leader and the founder of the Free Patriotic Movement, Michel Aoun.^[6]

References

1. "Speakers". Economist Conferences. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
2. "Gebran Biography". Retrieved 3 April 2014.
3. "Lebanon finally has a government Sulaiman's man seals the deal". Gulf News. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
4. "The Cabinet". Embassy of Lebanon. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
5. "Gebran Bassil's Profile, Biography & Heritage". Katagogi. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
6. "Economic Reform Prospects In Lebanon's New Government". Wikileaks. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2013.