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 14 August 2005 – 7 August 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 |
| Acting 14 February 2005 – 14 August 2005 |
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| President | Émile Lahoud |
| 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 |
Fouad Siniora (born 19 July 1943) is a well-known politician from Lebanon. He was the 12th Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2005 to 2009. Before that, he was the Minister of Finance from 2000 to 2004.
Contents
Early Career and Education
Fouad Siniora was born in Sidon, Lebanon. He studied at the American University of Beirut.
In the 1970s, he worked at a bank called Citibank. He also taught at two universities: the American University of Beirut (where he studied) and the Lebanese University.
Serving in Government
Fouad Siniora held important roles in the Lebanese government. From 1992 to 1998, he was a Minister of State, focusing on money matters.
Later, from 2000 to 2004, he became the Minister of Finance. This meant he was in charge of Lebanon's money and economy.
Becoming Prime Minister
In 2005, there were important elections in Lebanon. Groups that were against Syrian influence won.
Because of this, President Émile Lahoud asked Fouad Siniora to form a new government on 30 June 2005. After a lot of talks with different political groups, Siniora successfully formed his government on 19 July 2005.
The 2006 Lebanon War
On 12 July 2006, a group called Hezbollah attacked Israel from across the border. This led to a 33-day war, known as the 2006 Lebanon War. Israel heavily bombed Lebanon and sent troops in.
To try and stop the fighting, Prime Minister Siniora presented a plan on 27 July 2006. This plan, called the Siniora Plan, was shared at a big meeting in Rome with 15 countries. He also asked the Arab League to meet in Beirut. During a TV speech at the conference, he became very emotional when talking about how the war affected the people of Lebanon.
Political Challenges and Agreements
In November 2006, some ministers who were supported by Hezbollah and Amal left Siniora's government. This happened right before a meeting to discuss a special court for the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The groups that left said that Siniora's government was no longer fair because it didn't include all religious groups. However, the Lebanese constitution says a government is legal as long as it has enough ministers. So, many believed Siniora's government was still legal.
On 1 December 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 the opposition refused to attend parliament meetings to choose a new president. This meant Fouad Siniora had to act as president until a new one was chosen.
On 7 May 2008, armed groups, including Hezbollah and Amal, attacked parts of Beirut. They surrounded the airport, government buildings, and homes of some political leaders. This led to more fighting in other parts of Lebanon.
After Being Prime Minister
Even after his time as Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora continued to speak out about political issues. He has often criticized Hezbollah's strong influence in Lebanon.
In 2024, he said that Lebanon should not get involved in the war in Gaza. He believed that Lebanon "cannot afford" to be part of that conflict.
Personal Life
Fouad Siniora is known for his love of Arab literature and poetry. He enjoys reading and learning about these subjects.
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
