Elias Skaff
{{Short description|Lebanese politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Elias Skaff
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Elias Joseph Tohme Skaff
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|10|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zahlé
| nationality = Lebanese
| alma_mater = American University of Beirut
| occupation = Politician, MP
| years_active =
| net_worth =
| party = Popular Bloc
| boards =
| spouse = Myriam Gebran Tawk
| children = Joseph
Gebran
| parents = Joseph Skaff
Helena Nilacos
| signature =
| website =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes| 2015|10|10 |1948|10|11}}
}}
Elias (Elie) Skaff (Arabic: الياس سكاف; born 11 October 1948 – 10 October 2015) was a Lebanese politician and leader of the Popular Bloc.{{cite news|title=Proceed with caution|url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentaryanalysis/proceed_with_caution|accessdate=28 January 2013|newspaper=Now Lebanon|date=30 November 2007}}
Early years and education
Elias Skaff was born in Zahlé, Lebanon on 11 October 1948.{{cite web |title=Elias Skaff |url=http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/FPMParty/ParliamentaryBloc/EliasSkaff.htm |publisher=Tayyar.org |accessdate=15 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430025622/http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/FPMParty/ParliamentaryBloc/EliasSkaff.htm |archivedate=30 April 2009 }} He is the son of the leader and ex-minister Joseph Tohme Skaff. His mother is Helena Nilacos who is of the Greek nationality.
Elias Skaff received elementary education in Zahle and then in New Zealand.{{Cite news|url=http://www.prestigemag.co/2015/10/tribute-to-elie-skaff/|title=Tribute to Elie Skaff – Prestige Magazine|date=2015-10-14|newspaper=Prestige Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-21}} In 1965, he attended the Evangelical School in Zahle and then the International School of Choueifat – Lebanon. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1975.
Political career
Skaff was elected to the Lebanese parliament in 1992 as head of the Popular Bloc list as well as in 1996, 2000 and 2005. He was appointed minister of industry in 2003 in the government of Rafic Hariri. Then he served as the minister of agriculture in 2004 and 2005 in the Omar Karami government. He also participated in the sessions of National Dialogue in his capacity as head of the parliamentary Popular Bloc in 2006. In July 2008, Skaff was appointed agriculture minister to the cabinet of then prime minister Fouad Siniora.{{cite news|title=Lebanon's 'unity cabinet' announced|url=http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/07/lebanons_unity.php|accessdate=28 January 2013|newspaper=Ya Libnan|date=11 July 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111205302/http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/07/lebanons_unity.php|archivedate=11 November 2013}} Skaff lost his parliamentary seat in 2009 elections.{{cite web|title=Joseph Skaff |url=http://www.iamlebaneseandwillvotein2013.org/Joseph-Skaff.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415031910/http://www.iamlebaneseandwillvotein2013.org/Joseph-Skaff.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2013 |publisher=Lebanon 2013 |accessdate=28 January 2013 }}
Personal life
Elias Skaff is married to Myriam Gebran Tawk and has two children: Joseph and Gebran. Elias Skaff reestablished the political newspaper Al Asr (in Arabic العصر) in 2000.
References
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Category:Members of the Parliament of Lebanon
Category:American University of Beirut alumni
Category:Lebanese people of Greek descent
Category:Lebanese Melkite Greek Catholics
Category:Agriculture ministers of Lebanon
Category:Industry ministers of Lebanon
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