Zgharta Zawie Online Magazine

Who's Who Caza - Zgharta

Zgharta - Zawie Online Magazine

Sleiman Frangieh (1910 - 1992 )

Sleiman Frangieh, the second son of Kabalan Frangieh and the brother of Hamid Frangieh, was born in Zgharta on June 15, 1910. 1930's: Receives his education in Tripoli and in Aintoura.

Upon the illness of his brother Hamid in 1957, he becomes leader of the Franjieh clan, and starts on his political career. 1958 May- June: Frangieh supports the forces that oppose president Camille Chamoun in the civil war of this year.

He was elected member of Parliament in 1960, reelected in 1964 and in 1968.

He was nominated Minister of PTT in 1960 and minister of Interior in 1968. In august 1970, as he campaigns for the presidency, Frangieh gets the support of Chamoun and Pierre Gemayel. He defeats Elias Sarkis, but only with the narrowest margin in the parliament: one vote.

After his election at the head of the Republic, his son Tony was elected deputy of Zgharta El-Zawieh and reelected in 1972.

Sleiman Frangieh faced many difficulties during his term. He faced the rise of the then powerful PLO and the multiple incidents between the Lebanese Army and the Palestinians. The Verdun

Sleiman Frangieh faced many difficulties during his term. He faced the rise of the then powerful PLO and the multiple incidents between the Lebanese Army and the Palestinians. The Verdun operation, which resulted in the death of three major PLO figures, ended his long political partnership with PM Saeb Salam. Political and Governmental instability followed the year 1973 and ended in the outbreak of the civil war in 1975.

In 1976, Frangieh issues a Constitutional Reform Document, where he changes the 6:5 ratio between Christians and Muslims in the parliament into a 5:5 parity. This reform was not carried through.

Frangieh ended his term in 1976. He founded then the Lebanese Front with Camille Chamoun, Pierre Gemayel and many others, but he left Beirut and the L. Front after the assassination of his son Tony in 1978 to retire in his palace in Zgharta. He succeeded then in sparing the North the bitterness of the civil war. He died on July 23, 1992.

Photo Galleries of his election as President August 17, 1970, his visits to former presidents, his inauguration speech, in Baabda September 23, 1970.

SLEIMAN FRANGIÉ (1970-1976)

Originaire de Zghorta (Liban-Nord), né en 1909, Sleiman Frangié était membre de la Chambre, lors de son élection le 17 août 1970. Il fut élu à une voix de majorité face à son concurrent Elias Sarkis (candidat des Chéhabistes) “Une seule voix... la voix du peuple”. La Chambre comptait alors, 99 membres, était issue des législatives de mai 1968, qui avaient vu la victoire du “Helf” (alliance tripartite: PNL, Kataëb, B.N.) face au courant chéhabiste et alliés, le “Nahj”. Ce fut, sans doute, la bataille des présidentielles, la plus démocratique où il y a eu le moins d’interférence de courants extérieurs.

Le président Frangié entame son mandat en formant un gouvernement de technocrates et en poursuivant en justice les officiers du Second Bureau (Chéhabistes). Les Palestiniens, forts de l’appui arabe, transforment leurs camps de réfugiés en citadelles militaires, érigent un Etat dans l’Etat et projettent le Liban, dès le 13 avril 1975, dans une guerre destructive.
Le président Frangié réside au palais de Baabda. Mais au cours des derniers cinq mois de son mandat, il est amené à le quitter, sous la pression des obus pour s’installer à Kfour (Kesrouan).