30-520: Camille Nimr Chamoun OM , ONC ( Arabic : كميل نمر شمعون , romanized : Kamīl Nimr Shamʿūn , pronounced [kaˈmiːl ʃamˈʕuːn] ; 3 April 1900 – 7 August 1987) was a Lebanese politician who served as the 2nd president of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958. He was one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War . Camille Nimr Chamoun
60-596: A cabinet minister during Chamoun's term. Facing unrest in the country, with its epicentre in Sidon at the start of the protests, Chamoun eventually appealed to the United States for help under the new Eisenhower Doctrine , and American Marines landed in Beirut. Moreover, Naim Moghabghab , a close friend and political ally, formed and led a military group to reinforce Chamoun's position. Many battles occurred, mainly in Beirut and in
90-617: A free enterprise system. In 1968, the party joined The Helf Alliance formed with the two other big mainly Christian parties in Lebanon: the Kataeb of Pierre Gemayel , and National Bloc of Raymond Eddé . During the Lebanese Civil War of 1975–90, the NLP was aligned with the mainly Maronite Christian alliance who fought the Lebanese National Movement (LNM). It had its own armed militia,
120-508: A party, however. Nevertheless, with the death of Camille Chamoun in 1987 and the assassination of his successor and son Dany in 1990, combined with the rise of the Lebanese Forces as political party, it seems that the NLP's political influence has considerably declined comparing to the 1960s and 1970s. Following an ambush in Tabarja of a minibus carrying Syrian workers in which the driver
150-563: A sectarian basis; although the NLP during the civil war was mainly supported by Christians, however the NLP is a non-sectarian, national, liberal, political party that adopted the Chamoun'ism (الفكر الشمعوني) that transcends sectarianism and has support among Lebanese citizens of different religions or sects . While in England and the United States, Camille Chamoun developed an appreciation for political, economic, and social liberalism, particularly in
180-632: A significant role in allowing Chamoun to finish his term normally and Chehab to be elected according to the constitutional procedures. On his retirement from the presidency, Chamoun founded the National Liberal Party ( al-Ahrar ). As its leader, Chamoun was elected to the National Assembly again in 1960, much to the consternation of Chehab. He was defeated in 1964 because of changes to the boundaries of his electoral district, which he and his supporters protested as deliberate gerrymandering . He
210-565: Is Syria. They sound like Assad is the latest incarnation of the Crusaders ." Though initially aligned with Syria and inviting the Syrian Army to intervene against the leftist Lebanese National Movement (LNM) and its Palestinian allies in 1976, Chamoun later gravitated towards opposition to the Syrians' presence. On 12 March 1980, In Dora, Mount Lebanon , a remote-controlled bomb exploded near
240-750: Is now under the leadership of Camille Dory Chamoun , his grandson, who is the MP for the Maronite seat in Baabda , elected in the 2022 Lebanese parliamentary elections allied with the Lebanese Forces Party . The party has adopted a hard line in regard to the preservation of Lebanese independence, and to the safeguard of the distinctive liberal practices in Lebanon with respect to freedom of expression and opinion and religious freedoms . Most Lebanese political parties have
270-464: Is remembered as one of the main Christian nationalist leaders and one of the last significant figures of Lebanon's prewar generation of politicians whose political influence was eclipsed during the war by that of younger militia commanders. Order of Merit (Lebanon) The Order of Merit is a Lebanese order of merit and the highest honorary decoration in Lebanon. Founded on 16 January 1922 by
300-572: The Kataeb Party , became known as the Lebanese Forces (LF). Chamoun was chairman of the Lebanese Front from 1976 to 1978. He was defense minister in the cabinet of Rashid Karami in 1976. In a 1976 diplomatic cable from Beirut, special US envoy L. Dean Brown stated, "If I got nothing else from my meeting with Frangie , Chamoun and Gemayel , it is their clear, unequivocal and unmistakable belief that their principal hope for saving Christian necks
330-557: The Syrian occupation of Lebanon , but later "took a long break" from activities in the March 14 Alliance but did not withdraw their membership. During the 2022 Lebanese General election , Camille Dory Chamoun announced his candidacy along with two others in the districts of Matn , Baabda and Chouf , in alliance with Lebanese Forces Party and the PSP . On April 9, Chamoun participated in launching
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#1732858119320360-695: The Tigers . In 1976, the NLP joined with the Kataeb Party (Phalange) and the Lebanese Renewal Party (LRP) to form the Lebanese Front , a political coalition. This was paralleled by the joining of the militias under a central command, the Lebanese Forces , headed by Phalange leader Bashir Gemayel . In 1980, Gemayel turned on the Tigers, and in a surprise attack in Safra eliminated the militia. The NLP has survived as
390-456: The United Nations thereafter. He was the minister of finance from December 1946 to June 1947. When President Bechara El Khoury was forced to resign because of corruption allegations in 1952, Chamoun was elected to replace him. During Chamoun's presidency, Lebanon experienced an economic boom, in particular in the construction, banking and tourism sectors. He implemented a 1954 law on
420-493: The 1970s and 1980s, Chamoun served in a variety of portfolios in the cabinet, including interior minister. That was during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), in which Chamoun and his party participated through the party's militia, the Tigers (in Arabic, nimr means tiger ). In the early stages of the war, he helped found the Lebanese Front , a coalition of mostly-Christian politicians and parties, whose united militia, dominated by
450-546: The Chouf district, where clashes between Naim Moghabghab and Kamal Jumblatt 's men led to bloody fights. The revolt was squashed, but to appease Muslim anger, General Fuad Chehab , who claimed to be a Christian enjoying considerable popularity in the Muslim community, was elected to succeed Chamoun. The American diplomat Robert D. Murphy , who had been sent to Lebanon as personal representative of US President Dwight Eisenhower , played
480-516: The Christian factions of the war. A Christian group called "the Vanguard of Arab Christians" was named as responsible for the attack. Another assassination attempt occurred again on 7 January 1987 which killed 6 people and wounded 40 others when 165 pounds of explosives was detonated as Chamoun passed through East Beirut in the morning. In 1930 he married Zelpha (or Zalfa) Tabet with whom he had two sons, Dany and Dory , both of whom became politicians in
510-489: The NLP. Dany, his wife and two sons were all shot dead in their Beirut apartment on 21 October 1990. In 1984 Chamoun agreed to join the National Unity government as deputy prime minister, which he held until his death on 7 August 1987, at the age of 87. He died of a heart attack at Saint George's Hospital in Beirut. He spent his last months mostly in the care of his protégée Aida Yahchouchi and her husband, Joseph Wehbe. He
540-564: The best design, which was won by the artist Georges Corm . His winning design depicted a Lebanese man in traditional costume preventing a lion from attacking a Lebanese village. The ruler of Greater Lebanon issued Resolution 108 on 16 January 1922, with the first article stipulating: "An honorary medal called the Lebanese Medal of Merit has been created to reward those who perform acts of chivalry and loyalty, and it can be awarded posthumously to those who deserve it." The Order of Lebanese Merit
570-426: The car of Camille Chamoun. One bodyguard was killed while Chamoun, his driver, another bodyguard and a passerby suffered minor injuries. In 1980, the NLP's Tigers militia was virtually destroyed by a surprise attack from Chamoun's Christian rival, Bachir Gemayel . After Israel's invasion of Lebanon , Chamoun decided to enter a tactical cooperation with Israel to oppose the Syrian occupation in Lebanon. Gemayel
600-546: The constitution. The mood may have been itself indicative of the fact that nine prime ministers formed cabinets under the six years of Chamoun's presidency since Sunni politicians were not always able to justify their association with his politics to their constituencies and popular power base. That fact was evident in the pressures that faced the El-Bizri political base in Sidon , and the longstanding parliamentarian Nazih El-Bizri served as
630-529: The creation of joint-stock companies and a 1956 law on banking secrecy. According to Fawwaz Traboulsi, Chamoun concentrated power into his hands, blurring the limits of democracy and autocracy. Near the end of his term, Pan-Arabists and other groups backed by Gamal Abdel Nasser , with considerable support in Lebanon's Muslim (particularly Sunni ) community attempted to overthrow Chamoun's government in June 1958 after Chamoun tried to seek another term as president against
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#1732858119320660-617: The first president and prime minister , respectively, of the new republic. Massive public protests led to their release on 22 November, which has since been celebrated as the Lebanese Independence Day. Chamoun was re-elected to parliament, which was then called the National Assembly , in 1947 and 1951. He was frequently absent, however, as he served as ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1944 to 1946 and as ambassador to
690-513: The list in Abadieh . On May 1, during the opening of its commission headquarters in Keserwan district headed by Chamoun, the party presented its electoral points, which included: sovereignty, positive impartiality, independence of the judiciary, expanded administrative decentralization, restoring confidence in the banking sector, and the return of refugees and displaced persons. The National Liberal Party
720-570: The mandate authorities, it has since its inception rewarded civilians who perform acts of chivalry and loyalty to the Nation. It can be awarded posthumously to those who deserve it. With the declaration of the State of Greater Lebanon in 1920, the mandate authorities sought to create a special medal to be awarded by the Lebanese government, named the "Lebanese Order of Merit." A competition was organized to select
750-490: The media. After his presidential career ended, he set up the National Liberal Party to represent his views. Politically, he was anti-French and pro-British, and strongly supported independent action. The ideology of the National Liberal Party was primarily focused on allegiance to Chamoun and support for Lebanese independence. It distinguished itself from other parties mainly by its support for democratic governance and
780-469: Was born at Deir al-Qamar on 3 April 1900 into a prominent Maronite family. He received a law degree from Saint Joseph University . Chamoun was first elected to the Lebanese parliament in 1934, and was reelected in 1937 and 1943. A champion of independence from France, he was arrested on 11 November 1943 and was imprisoned in the castle of Rashayya , where he was held for eleven days, along with Bishara el-Khoury and Riad Al Solh , who were to become
810-498: Was elected to the presidency in August 1982, but was assassinated before taking office. Chamoun announced his candidacy, but withdrew one day before the election, after the United States endorsed Amine Gemayel. In 1985, 5 people were killed and 23 injured in a suicide attack during a meeting between Christian parties in the St. Georges Monastery in Beirut which was aimed at the five main leaders of
840-543: Was established by Decision No. 1080 on 16 January 1922, and is governed by the decree relating to the code of decorations (Law No. 122 of 12 June 1959). This order consists of two dignities and four ordinary classes as follows: National Liberal Party (Lebanon) Gold The National Liberal Party (NLP, Arabic : حزب الوطنيين الأحرار , Ḥizb Al-Waṭaniyyīn Al-Aḥrār ) is a nationalist political party in Lebanon , established by President Camille Chamoun in 1958. It
870-516: Was killed, 18 December 1996, and a number of attempted bombings, forty members of the NPL were detained by the security services. Some of those detained were later charged with offences such as having contacts with Israel, inciting Lebanese soldiers to disobey orders and “disturbing Lebanon’s relations with a friendly country”. In 2005 the NLP was part of the Qornet Shehwan Gathering , opposed to
900-409: Was re-elected to the National Assembly, however, in 1968, and again in 1972, Lebanon's last parliamentary election in his lifetime. After the election of 1968, the National Liberal Party held 11 seats out of 99, becoming the largest single party in the notoriously fractured National Assembly. It was the only political party to elect representatives from all of Lebanon's major religious confessions. In
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