Karim Pakradouni
Encyclopedia
Karim Pakradouni born in Beirut
on August 18, 1944 to an Armenian Orthodox father and Maronite Catholic mother, is a Lebanese
Christian
attorney and politician. He has been a leading figure in the Kataeb Party
since 1968 when he became head of its student wing. He was elected to the party's political bureau in 1970 and remained in the party's top echelon, leading the so-called "Arabist" faction of the Phalange
, which favored close ties with Syria
.
During the 1980s, he was a leading figure in the Lebanese Forces
; until December 2007 he was the hands-on leader of the Kataeb party, while former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel was the "higher leader." In December 2007 Gemayel became only leader. Consequently, in 2008, Karim Pakradouni pended his resignation from the Kataeb party.
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
on August 18, 1944 to an Armenian Orthodox father and Maronite Catholic mother, is a Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
attorney and politician. He has been a leading figure in the Kataeb Party
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
since 1968 when he became head of its student wing. He was elected to the party's political bureau in 1970 and remained in the party's top echelon, leading the so-called "Arabist" faction of the Phalange
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
, which favored close ties with Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
During the 1980s, he was a leading figure in the Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
; until December 2007 he was the hands-on leader of the Kataeb party, while former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel was the "higher leader." In December 2007 Gemayel became only leader. Consequently, in 2008, Karim Pakradouni pended his resignation from the Kataeb party.