Najib Mikati
Najib Mikati | |
---|---|
نجيب ميقاتي | |
45th Prime Minister of Lebanon | |
Assumed office 10 September 2021 | |
President | Michel Aoun until October 2022 Himself (acting) since October 2022 |
Deputy | Saadeh Al Shami |
Preceded by | Hassan Diab |
In office 13 June 2011 – 15 February 2014 | |
President | Michel Suleiman |
Deputy | Samir Mouqbel |
Preceded by | Saad Hariri |
Succeeded by | Tammam Salam |
In office 19 April 2005 – 19 July 2005 | |
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 | |
President | Émile Lahoud |
Prime Minister |
|
Personal details | |
Born | Tripoli, Lebanon | 24 November 1955
Political party | Azm Movement |
Other political affiliations | Independent |
Spouse | May Mikati |
Relatives |
|
Alma mater | American University of Beirut |
Website | www |
Najib Azmi Mikati (
In 2005, he headed an interim government that supervised the 2005 general election following the withdrawal of Syrian troops. In 2011, he formed his second government, backed by the March 8 alliance,[2] before he resigned in 2013. He was a member of parliament for Tripoli from 2000 to 2005 and was re-elected in 2009 and 2018. In July 2021, he was designated as prime minister.[3]
According to Forbes, he is the richest man in Lebanon, with a net worth of $2.8 billion in 2023.[4] In 2019, state prosecutor Ghada Aoun accuse Mikati of corruption and pressed charges against Mikati over illegitimate enrichment via subsidised housing loans.[5][6][7]The charges were dismissed on 3 February 2022 by judge Charbel Bou Samra.[8] In 2023, an investigation in Monaco cleared him of any wrongdoing due to "insufficient evidence,"[9] and he has said that the accusations against him were politically motivated.[10] Mikati has been linked to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, as he made his fortune by operating several telecom projects in Syria and Lebanon in the early 2000s.[11][12]
Early life and education
Mikati was born on 24 November 1955
Business career and wealth
In 1979, Najib's older brother
He is a major shareholder in the South African telecommunications operator MTN, owner of the high-end fashion brand Façonnable, and an investor in transport, gas, and oil. He also has investments in real estate, notably in London, New York, and Monaco.[19] He also owns
He owns the 79-metre motor yacht Mimtee.[20][21]
Political career
After being appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport on 4 December 1998, Mikati was elected to the
He is considered a compromise figure, not being close to any particular political bloc. He is one of the leaders of the Sunni community. He himself denies any closeness to Hezbollah and describes himself as a liberal, emphasizing his background in business to reassure the United States.[23]
First premiership
Mikati was a perennial candidate for Lebanon's prime ministry since 2000, finally taking the office upon the resignation of Omar Karami on 13 April 2005.
Second premiership
On 24 January 2011, the
On 13 June, Mikati announced the formation of the government and stated that it would begin by "liberating land that remains under the occupation of the Israeli enemy".[30][31] On 22 March 2013, Mikati resigned from office, due to "intensifying pressure between the pro-Assad and anti-Assad camps"[32] and the Lebanese president accepted his resignation on 23 March 2013.[33] On 6 April 2013, Tammam Salam was tasked to form a new government.[34]
Third premiership
Following the resignation of Prime Minister
In February 2022, Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Lebanese senior Christian cleric and head of the Maronite Church, called on the Mikati government to "agree with the IMF on a plan that saves Lebanon from collapse".[40]
He was again named prime minister designate on 23 June 2022 with 54 votes against Nawaf Salam's 28 to form a new cabinet until the remainder of President Michel Aoun's term.[41] However, Mikati and Aoun failed to agree on a new government numerous times. President Michel Aoun signed the government's resignation decree,[42][43] a day before his six-year term officially ended, and Najib Mikati's government remained in office in a caretaker capacity, however Aoun's move was deemed as of no effect by the Lebanese Parliament in a session held on November 3 since the government was already considered resigned following parliamentary elections on May 15.[44]
Corruption allegations
In 2019, state prosecutor Ghada Aoun pressed charges against Mikati over illegitimate enrichment via subsidised housing loans.[5][6][7]The charges were dismissed on 3 February 2022 by judge Charbel Bou Samra[8]
In October 2021, Mikati was named in the Pandora Papers leak. He denied any wrongdoing.[45][46]
On April 2024, French anti-corruption NGOs, Sherpa and the Collective of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices, filed a complaint against Najib Miktai and his family. Mikati denied any wrongdoing and called it a media campaign intended to "insult him and his family members".[47]
References
- ^ Houssari, Najia (31 October 2022). "Mikati's makeshift Lebanese government to assume presidential powers". Arab News. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Mikati: new government will restore trust in economy". The Daily Star. 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ Hubbard, Ben (26 July 2021). "Lebanon Turns to Billionaire Tycoon to Form Next Government". The New York Times.
- ^ Mughal, Waqar. "Najib Mikati - World,s Richest Arabs 2023". Forbes Lists. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b c Chehayeb, Kareem. "Lebanese Sunni leaders endorse Mikati to form new government". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Lebanon's former PM denies corruption charges". Deutsche Welle. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Prosecutor presses charges against Lebanon ex-PM: state media". France 24. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b https://www.sawtbeirut.com/?p=516930
- ^ Jalabi, Raya (25 August 2023). "Lebanon prime minister cleared after Monaco corruption probe". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Alleged money laundering: Monaco investigation into Mikati closed, his office says". L'Orient Today. 25 August 2023.
- ^ Nour, Ali (5 August 2021). "Meet the Mikati Brothers: The Myanmar Communications Kings". Daraj. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (15 August 2011). "Q&A With Lebanon's P.M. Najib Mikati". Newsweek. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Profile: Najib Mikati". BBC. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-19-518111-1.
- ^ "Lebanese Power-brokers: The Most Powerful Families of Lebanon". Marcopolis. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ "Taha Mikati", Bloomberg. Accessed 17 November 2015.
- ^ "The World's Billionaires". Forbes. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Mikati Family". lebanon.mom-gmr.org. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Najib Mikati, un milliardaire honni par la rue pour diriger un Liban en crise". 26 July 2021.
- ^ "CRN's 79m motor yacht Mimtee in Monaco". superyachttimes.com. 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Najib Mikati – Owner of the Yacht Mimtee". superyachtfan.com.
- ^ Fakih, Mohalhel (2–8 September 2004). "Pulling at Lebanon's strings". Al Ahram Weekly. 706. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Liban : Le Premier ministre désigné se défend d'être l'homme du Hezbollah". 25 January 2011.
- ^ Assir, Serene (21–27 April 2005). "Divided we fall". Al Ahram Weekly. 739. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ Hosri, Danielle (16 April 2005). "Opposition-Backed Moderate Mikati Named Lebanese PM". Arab News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ Alaa Shahine; Massoud A. Derhally (13 June 2011). "Lebanon's Mikati Forms New Cabinet With Hezbollah Support". Bloomberg. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Elections in Lebanon" (PDF). IFES. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-19-518111-1. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ Salem, Paul (15 June 2011). "Lebanon's New Government: Outlines and Challenges". Carnegie Middle East. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon PM: New government to liberate land under occupation of 'Israeli enemy'." Reuters, 13 June 2011.
- ^ Simon, Kevin (2012). "Hezbollah: Terror in Context". Olin College of Engineering. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ Salem, Paul (23 March 2013). "Lebanon Imperiled as Prime Minister Resigns Under Duress". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ^ El Basha, Thomas (22 March 2013). "Lebanese PM announces resignation of his government". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon names Tammam Salam as new prime minister". BBC. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ "Lebanese billionaire Najib Mikati picked as new PM-designate". France 24. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Mikati pour un gouvernement purement technocrate". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Le retour de Mikati fait grincer des dents". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Après 13 mois, un gouvernement enfin formé au Liban". Libnanews (in French). 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Liban: le premier ministre Najib Mikati annonce la composition du nouveau gouvernement". TV 5 Monde (in French). 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Lebanese Maronite Patriarch urges IMF deal, elections on time". Reuters. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Mikati named PM-designate with 54 votes as Salam gets 25". Naharnet. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "President Aoun signs decree declaring Mikati's government as resigned". MTV Lebanon. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Aoun leaves Lebanon presidential palace in style as term ends". Arab News. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Lebanon: Parliament Asks Govt to Continue in Caretaker Capacity amid Presidential Vacuum". Asharq Al-Awsat. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Governments launch investigations after Pandora Papers show how elite shield riches". The Washington Post. 4 October 2021.
- ^ "Pandora Papers: Lebanon PM Mikati says family wealth legal". Aljazeera. 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Lebanon's billionaire PM Mikati denies corruption claims – DW – 04/04/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Sources
- Dewailly, Bruno (2012), "Les transformations du leadership tripolitain : le cas de Nagib Mikati", in Mermier, F.; Mervin, S. (eds.), Leaders et partisans au Liban, Paris: Karthala - IFPO - IISMM, pp. 165–185, ISBN 978-2-8111-0595-2