Nabih Berri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nabih Berri
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نبيه بري
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Berri in 2024
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| Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon | |
| Assumed office 20 October 1992 |
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| President | Elias Hrawi Émile Lahoud Michel Sleiman Michel Aoun Joseph Aoun |
| Preceded by | Hussein el-Husseini |
| President of Amal Movement | |
| Assumed office 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Hussein el-Husseini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 January 1938 Bo, British Sierra Leone |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Political party | Amal Movement |
| Spouses | Lila Berri (div.) Randa Berri |
| Children | 10 |
Nabih Mustafa Berri (Arabic: نبيه مصطفى برّي; born 28 January 1938) is a well-known Lebanese politician. He has been the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon since 1992. This means he leads the main law-making group in Lebanon. He also leads a political group called the Amal Movement. This group has its own part in parliament, known as the Development and Liberation Bloc.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nabih Berri was born on 28 January 1938 in Bo, Sierra Leone. His parents were Lebanese and belonged to the Shia community. His father, Mustafa Berri, worked as a trader there.
Berri went to school in southern Lebanon, in towns like Tebnine and Ain Ebel. He continued his studies in Beirut at schools like Makassed and Ecole de la Sagesse. In 1963, he earned a law degree from the Lebanese University. While studying, he was also the president of the student body. After graduating, he became a lawyer.
Beginning His Career
In 1963, Berri was chosen to be the president of the National Union of Lebanese Students. He took part in many student and political meetings. Early in his career, he worked as a lawyer at the Court of Appeals. In the early 1970s, he worked in Beirut, helping different companies as their lawyer.
Role in the Lebanese Civil War
In 1980, Nabih Berri became the leader of the Amal Movement. During the Lebanese Civil War, he led efforts against the Israeli army, especially in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa region. A famous fight he was involved in was the Battle of Khalde in 1982.
After the Israeli invasion in 1982, Berri joined a group called the Salvation Committee. This group was set up by President Elias Sarkis. In 1984, Berri played a key role in a movement called the Intifada of 6 February. He worked with Walid Jumblatt, another political leader. This movement helped lead to the Taif Accord, which was an agreement that helped end the civil war.
In May 1984, Berri became a minister in the government. He was the minister of state for South Lebanon and reconstruction. He also served as the minister of housing and co-operatives.
Political Journey
Nabih Berri served as a government minister for several years, from 1984 to 1992. He held different roles during this time.
- From 1984 to 1988, he was the Minister of Justice.
- From 1989 to 1990, he was the Minister of Hydraulic & Electric Resources.
- Also from 1989 to 1990, he was the Minister of Housing & Cooperatives.
- In 1992, he served as a Minister of State.
Because he had strong support from Syria and was close to Syrian officials, he had a lot of influence in the Lebanese government after the Taif Accord.
Since 1992, Berri has led a group of lawmakers in parliament called the Liberation and Development parliamentary bloc. He has led this group to win many parliamentary elections in southern Lebanon. For example, his list won all seats in the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2005, and 2009 elections.
Serving as Speaker of Parliament
Nabih Berri was first elected as the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon on 20 October 1992. He received 105 out of 124 votes. He has been re-elected to this important position many times:
- 22 October 1996 (122 out of 126 votes)
- 17 October 2000 (unanimously, 124 out of 126 votes)
- 28 June 2005 (90 out of 126 votes)
- 25 June 2009 (90 out of 127 votes)
- 23 May 2018 (98 out of 128 votes)
- 2022 (65 out of 128 votes)
This makes him the person who has led a law-making assembly for the longest time in the world.
Since 1999, he has led the Arab Parliament Committee. This committee works to reveal crimes against Arab civilians. In 2003, he was chosen to be the president of the Arab Parliament. He also became the president of the Council of the Parliamentary Union of the Member States. In 2004, he was elected President of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States.
Nabih Berri has always supported talks between all Lebanese groups, religions, and communities. In 2014, he emphasized that power-sharing between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon would not change. He said he spoke for the Shia, Sunnis, and Druze communities. He has also supported teachers, public employees, and the armed forces in Lebanon. He helped them fight for better salaries.
Since 1993, Berri has led the Union of Parliamentarians of Lebanese Descent. This group includes 156 members of parliament and senators from 19 different countries.
Family Life
Nabih Berri has been married twice. He has six children with his first wife, Lila. He has four more children with his second wife, Randa Assi Berri.
Images for kids
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Berri in 2024
