Najib Mikati facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Najib Mikati
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نجيب ميقاتي
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Mikati in 2024
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| Prime Minister of Lebanon | |
| In office 10 September 2021 – 8 February 2025 |
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| President |
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| Deputy | Saadeh Al Shami |
| Preceded by | Hassan Diab |
| Succeeded by | Nawaf Salam |
| In office 13 June 2011 – 15 February 2014 |
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| President | Michel Suleiman |
| Deputy | Samir Mouqbel |
| Preceded by | Saad Hariri |
| Succeeded by | Tammam Salam |
| In office 19 April 2005 – 19 July 2005 |
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| President | Émile Lahoud |
| Deputy | Elias Murr |
| Preceded by | Omar Karami |
| Succeeded by | Fouad Siniora |
| Minister of Public Works and Transport | |
| In office 6 December 1998 – 26 October 2004 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Ali Hrajli |
| Succeeded by | Yassine Jaber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 November 1955 Tripoli, Lebanon |
| Political party | Azm Movement |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent |
| Spouse | May Mikati |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
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| Education | |
| Signature |  |
Najib Azmi Mikati (Arabic: نجيب عزمي ميقاتي) is a well-known Lebanese politician and businessman. He was born on November 24, 1955. He has served as the prime minister of Lebanon multiple times. His most recent term was from 2021 to 2025. Before that, he was also the Minister of Public Works and Transport from 1998 to 2003.
In 2005, he led a temporary government. This government helped oversee the general election after Syrian troops left Lebanon. He became prime minister again in 2011. He resigned from this role in 2013. Mikati has also been a member of parliament for his hometown, Tripoli. He served from 2000 to 2005, and again from 2009 and 2018. In July 2021, he was chosen to be prime minister once more. He officially started this job on September 10, 2021.
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Early Life and Education
Najib Mikati was born on November 24, 1955. He comes from a well-known family in Tripoli. This city is in Lebanon.
He went to the American University of Beirut. In 1980, he earned a degree in business from there. He also took part in special business programs. These programs were held at Harvard and INSEAD.
Business Career and Wealth
In 1979, Najib Mikati's older brother, Taha Mikati, started a company. It was called Arabian Construction Company (ACC). This company grew to be one of the biggest construction firms in the Middle East.
In 1982, Najib Mikati and his brother Taha started their own company. It was a telecommunications company named Investcom. They sold this company in 2006 to MTN Group for a large amount of money. The brothers also own a news website called Lebanon24. They also have a small share in LBCI, a TV channel.
Mikati has many investments. He is a major owner in MTN, a phone company in South Africa. He also owns the high-end fashion brand Façonnable. He invests in transport, gas, and oil businesses. He also owns real estate in big cities. These include London, New York, and Monaco.
He also owns a large motor yacht called Mimtee.
Political Career
Najib Mikati became the Minister of Public Works and Transport in 1998. In 2000, he was elected to the Lebanese parliament. He represented his hometown of Tripoli. He won more votes than Omar Karami in that election.
As a member of parliament, Mikati kept his role as minister. He became known as a politician who had a good relationship with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Later, he supported extending the term of then-Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.
Mikati is seen as someone who can bring different groups together. He is not closely tied to any single political group. He is also one of the leaders of the Sunni community in Lebanon. He says he is a liberal and focuses on his business background. This helps him build trust with countries like the United States.
First Time as Prime Minister
Mikati had been a candidate for prime minister since 2000. He finally took the job on April 13, 2005. This happened after Omar Karami resigned. Mikati was chosen because many different groups agreed on him. He led a temporary government.
He is the leader of the Solidarity Bloc. This group has had two seats in the Lebanese parliament since 2004. He also started a "centrist movement" in Lebanon. This movement aims to find middle ground in politics. In the 2009 election, Mikati won his seat from Tripoli again. He remained part of the centrist groups in parliament.
Second Time as Prime Minister
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On January 24, 2011, a group called the March 8 alliance chose Mikati. They wanted him to become prime minister. This group included Hezbollah, Michel Aoun, and Walid Jumblatt. Mikati took over from Saad Hariri. Hariri's government had fallen apart earlier that month.
On January 25, 2011, 68 members of the parliament of Lebanon voted for Mikati. President of Lebanon Michel Suleiman then asked him to form a new government. It took five months to form the government. This was because leaders had many disagreements. On June 13, 2011, Mikati became Prime Minister of Lebanon for the second time.
When the government was formed, Mikati said they would work to free land. This land was still under the control of the Israeli enemy. On March 22, 2013, Mikati resigned from his job. He said there was too much pressure between groups supporting and opposing Bashar al-Assad. The Lebanese president accepted his resignation the next day. On April 6, 2013, Tammam Salam was asked to form a new government.
Third Time as Prime Minister
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After Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned in August 2020, two other politicians tried to form a government but failed. Mikati was then chosen for the role on July 26, 2021. He received 72 votes from 128 members of parliament. Mikati said he wanted a government made of experts. He did not want representatives from political parties. This was to help carry out economic changes that Lebanon's international supporters wanted.
Many people in Lebanon were not happy with his appointment. Lebanon was facing a very serious economic crisis. The national money was losing value quickly. Prices for food had gone up a lot. Many people had lost their jobs. A large part of the population was living in poverty. There were also frequent power cuts and fuel shortages. People saw Mikati as part of the traditional political class. They felt this group was responsible for the country's problems.
On September 10, 2021, Mikati successfully formed a government. It had 24 members. This happened after long talks with President Aoun and other political parties. When he took office, Mikati said he wanted help from other Arab countries. He also planned to talk with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This was to help Lebanon get out of its crisis.
In February 2022, a senior Christian leader in Lebanon, Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, asked Mikati's government to work with the IMF. He wanted them to create a plan to save Lebanon from collapse.
Mikati was again named prime minister-designate on June 23, 2022. He received 54 votes. He was tasked with forming a new government until President Michel Aoun's term ended. However, Mikati and Aoun could not agree on a new government. President Aoun signed the government's resignation decree just before his term ended. This meant Najib Mikati's government continued in a temporary role.
In September 2024, there were Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. Many people were killed and injured. Mikati called these airstrikes a "war of extermination." He said Israel had a "destructive plan" to harm Lebanese villages and towns.
On January 13, 2025, Mikati announced his resignation. This was after Nawaf Salam was chosen by 84 lawmakers to be the next prime minister.
Personal Life
Najib Mikati is married to May Domani. They have three children together.
See also
In Spanish: Najib Mikati para niños
