Michel Suleiman
Who was Michel Suleiman?
Former Lebanese Army Commander who served as the 12th President of Lebanon from 2008 to 2014.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Michel Suleiman (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Michel Suleiman is a Lebanese politician and former military officer who was the 12th President of Lebanon from 2008 to 2014. Born on November 21, 1948, he spent much of his career with the Lebanese Armed Forces before moving into the country's top political role. He studied at Lebanese University and is married to Wafaa Sleiman.
Suleiman's military career peaked when he became the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in December 1998, following Émile Lahoud, who had been elected President. Throughout his ten years as army commander, Suleiman guided the military during challenging times, including after the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
He shifted from military leadership to the presidency during a constitutional crisis that had left Lebanon without a president for six months. Suleiman was sworn in as President on May 25, 2008, after a compromise between political factions. His election called for a constitutional amendment, as active military commanders weren't allowed to run for president immediately.
As President, Suleiman received many international honors for his diplomatic and leadership efforts. These included the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour from France in 2009, the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic from Spain in 2009, and various awards from Middle Eastern countries like the Order of King Abdulaziz al Saud from Saudi Arabia in 2008 and the Order of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic in 2005. At home, he was recognized with several Lebanese awards, beginning with the Knight of the National Order of the Cedar in 1993 and reaching the Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar in 1999.
Before Fame
Michel Suleiman was born in 1948 when Lebanon was becoming an independent nation after the end of the French Mandate. Growing up after independence, he saw Lebanon's early years as a sovereign state and its growth as a regional commercial and cultural hub. His early years were during Lebanon's golden age in the 1950s and 1960s, when Beirut was called the 'Paris of the Middle East.'
Suleiman studied at Lebanese University, one of the country's top academic institutions. Early in his career, he joined the Lebanese Armed Forces, where he spent decades advancing through the military ranks. During this time, the Lebanese military faced the challenge of staying neutral and united in a country with complex sectarian issues and regional pressures. His military training and experience during Lebanon's civil war and afterward influenced his understanding of the delicate balance needed to keep stability in Lebanese society.
Key Achievements
- Served as Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces for ten years (1998-2008)
- Elected as 12th President of Lebanon, ending a six-month presidential vacancy
- Oversaw military operations during the 2007 Nahr al-Bared conflict
- Maintained Lebanese Armed Forces neutrality during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war
- Received diplomatic honors from seven nations, enhancing Lebanon's international relations
Did You Know?
- 01.Constitutional law had to be amended specifically to allow Suleiman's candidacy for president, as active military commanders were previously prohibited from running for the office
- 02.Lebanon remained without a president for six months before Suleiman's election, marking one of the longest presidential vacancies in the country's history
- 03.He received orders and decorations from seven different countries during his presidency, reflecting extensive diplomatic engagement across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa
- 04.Suleiman commanded the Lebanese Armed Forces during the 2007 Nahr al-Bared conflict, a significant military operation against militant groups in a Palestinian refugee camp
- 05.His presidency began with the Doha Agreement, which ended an 18-month political crisis that had paralyzed the Lebanese government
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour | 2009 | — |
| Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic | 2009 | — |
| Order of the Badge of Honour | 2011 | — |
| Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar | 1999 | — |
| Knight of the National Order of the Cedar | 1993 | — |
| Order of King Abdulaziz al Saud | 2008 | — |
| Order of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic | 2005 | — |
| Order of Mubarak the Great | 2009 | — |
| Order of Independence | 2010 | — |
| Order of the Umayyads | 2010 | — |
| Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria | 2012 | — |
| Order of Rio Branco | — | — |
| Order of Zayed | 2009 | — |
| Medal "For Strengthening of Brotherhood in Arms" | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion | 2013 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer | 2012 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX | 2014 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | 2008 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit | — | — |
| Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 4th class | 2002 | — |
| Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania | 2009 | — |
| honorary doctor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations | — | — |
| Order of the Redeemer | — | — |
| Order of Merit | — | — |
| National Order of the Cedar | — | — |
| Order of the Southern Cross | — | — |
| Order of Isabella the Catholic | — | — |
| Order pro Merito Melitensi | — | — |
| Order of the Star of Romania | — | — |
| Order of Al-Khalifa | — | — |
| Civil Order of Oman | — | — |
| Order of Pius IX | — | — |
| National Order of the Lion of Senegal | — | — |
| National Order of the Ivory Coast | — | — |
| Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria | — | — |
| Order of Saint-Charles | — | — |
| Order of Bahrain | — | — |