11 Facts About Lutfi al-Haffar

Lutfi al-Haffar was a Syrian businessman and politician.

Lutfi al-Haffar was a founding member of the National Bloc and served as 11th Prime Minister of Syria in 1939.

Lutfi al-Haffar joined the Damascus Chamber of Commerce in 1922, and became its deputy president in 1924.

In 1923 in response to the water shortages in Damascus, Lutfi al-Haffar established the Ayn al-Fijeh Waterworks Company, which pumped water from the Ayn al-Fijeh spring in the Ghouta area to the city of Damascus and constructed the first modern public water system in the city.

Lutfi al-Haffar was arrested by the mandate authorities and detained until 1928.

The strike lasted sixty-days, and Lutfi al-Haffar was arrested during a demonstration against the French-appointed prime minister, Taj al-Din al-Hasani.

On 24 February 1939, Lutfi al-Haffar was appointed prime minister by President al-Atassi.

Lutfi al-Haffar served as deputy to Prime Minister Mardam Bey until the military coup of Chief of Staff Husni al-Za'im overthrew the Quwatli administration.

Lutfi al-Haffar was released after direct interference by former Lebanese Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Karami.

Lutfi al-Haffar opposed the 1958 union between Egypt and Syria and signed the secession declaration supporting the military coup which ended the union in 1961.

Lutfi al-Haffar retired from politics after the March 1963 Baath-led coup d'etat.