20 Facts About Suleiman Frangieh

Suleiman Kabalan Frangieh was a Lebanese politician who served as the 5th president of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976.

Suleiman Frangieh was the second son of a politician, Kabalan Suleiman Frangieh.

Kabalan Frangieh was district governor of Ehden and a member of the Lebanese Parliament.

Suleiman Frangieh dealt with the family's export-import business in Beirut for a time before his political career.

In 1960, Suleiman Frangieh was elected to his elder brother Hamid's old seat in the Lebanese Parliament.

Suleiman Frangieh became the head of his clan due to Hamid's illness.

Suleiman Frangieh was reelected to the Parliament in 1964 and 1968.

Suleiman Frangieh owed his upset victory over Elias Sarkis, the official candidate of the Chehabi regime to a last minute change of mind by Kamal Jumblatt, whose supporters in the Parliament switched their votes to Frangieh.

However, Sarkis could move to office four months after his election on 23 September 1976, since Suleiman Frangieh objected at first to leave office.

Suleiman Frangieh refused to step down, and the Al-Ahdab coup was quickly suppressed due to lack of significant support from the Lebanese military.

Suleiman Frangieh had full support of the Lebanese Christians in this regard, since they thought that Syria would be able to force a cease-fire and protect Christians.

Suleiman Frangieh is regarded as in large part being responsible for Lebanon's descent into war in the mid-1970s.

Suleiman Frangieh initially participated in the Lebanese Front, a right-wing, mainly Christian, coalition of politicians and militia leaders, but in early 1978 he broke with them because of his own pro-Syrian leanings.

Ever since then, Suleiman Frangieh was reported to have been depressed.

Suleiman Frangieh announced his candidacy on 17 August 1988.

Suleiman Frangieh is known to have served with the Marada Brigade in the 1980s.

Suleiman Frangieh was called in Lebanon as "the tough man" due to his harsh tongue, volatile temper and ruthless approach to some of his opponents.

Suleiman Frangieh died at age 82 in the hospital of the American University in Beirut, after three weeks of hospitalization, on 23 July 1992.

Suleiman Frangieh reportedly died of acute pneumonia and had heart and stomach ailments.

Suleiman Frangieh was buried in Ehden next to his son Tony.