Fouad Siniora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fouad Siniora
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فؤاد السنيورة
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Siniora in 2006
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| 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon | |
| In office 19 July 2005 – 9 November 2009 |
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| President | Émile Lahoud Michel Suleiman |
| Deputy | Elias al-Murr Issam Abu Jamra |
| Preceded by | Rafic Hariri |
| Succeeded by | Saad Hariri |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 26 October 2000 – 26 October 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Georges Corm |
| Succeeded by | Elias Saba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 July 1943 Sidon, Greater Lebanon |
| Political party | Future |
| Spouse | Huda Siniora |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | American University of Beirut Lebanese University |
Fouad Siniora (Arabic: فؤاد السنيورة) was born on July 19, 1943. He is a well-known politician from Lebanon. He served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon, which is like being the head of the government, from 2005 to 2009. Before that, he also worked as the Minister of Finance, managing the country's money, from 2000 to 2004.
Contents
Early Life and Career
In the 1970s, Fouad Siniora worked at a bank called Citibank. He also taught at two universities: the American University of Beirut, where he had studied, and the Lebanese University.
Working in Government
Siniora held important roles in the Lebanese government. From 1992 to 1998, he was the Minister of State for Financial Affairs. Later, from 2000 to 2004, he became the Minister of Finance. In this role, he was in charge of the country's money and economy.
Becoming Prime Minister
In 2005, there were important parliamentary elections in Lebanon. Groups that were against Syria won these elections. Because of this, on June 30, 2005, President Émile Lahoud asked Fouad Siniora to form a new government.
Siniora had to work hard to talk with the President and different political groups. After many discussions, he successfully formed his government on July 19, 2005. He then stepped down from his role as head of Group Méditerranée, a banking company.
Challenges During His Time as Prime Minister
The 2006 Lebanon War
On July 12, 2006, a group called Hezbollah launched an attack across the border into Israel. This led to a 33-day conflict known as the 2006 Lebanon War. During this time, Israel heavily bombed and invaded parts of Lebanon.
To try and stop the fighting, Siniora presented a seven-point plan on July 27, 2006. He shared this plan at a meeting in Rome with 15 different countries. He also asked for a meeting of the Arab League in Beirut. During a speech, he became very emotional as he talked about how the war was affecting the people of Lebanon.
Political Challenges and Agreements
In November 2006, some ministers from Siniora's government resigned. These ministers were supported by Hezbollah and the Amal group. This happened just before a meeting to discuss a special court for a serious event involving Rafik Hariri.
The groups that resigned said that Siniora's government was no longer fair because it didn't include all religious groups in Lebanon, especially the Shiite Lebanese. However, the constitution said the government was still legal as long as it had two-thirds of its ministers. Most people believed Siniora's government was still valid.
On December 1, 2006, opposition groups, including Amal, Hezbollah, and the Free Patriotic Movement, started street protests. They wanted more power in the government. The country faced more problems when these groups refused to attend parliament meetings to vote for a new president. This meant that Fouad Siniora had to act as president until a new one was chosen.
On May 7, 2008, Hezbollah, Amal, and other groups launched an armed action in Beirut. They surrounded important places like the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport and government buildings. This led to more conflicts in other parts of Lebanon.
After Being Prime Minister
After his time as Prime Minister, Siniora continued to speak out about Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon. He said that Hezbollah had a very strong hold on the country. In 2024, he also spoke against Lebanon getting involved in the war in Gaza. He believed that Lebanon could not afford to be part of that conflict.
Personal Life
Fouad Siniora is known for his love of Arab literature and poetry.
See also
In Spanish: Fuad Siniora para niños
- First Cabinet of Fouad Siniora
- Position of Lebanon in the 2006 Lebanon War
- Siniora Plan
Images for kids
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President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Siniora at the White House South Lawn on Tuesday, April 18, 2006
