Nassib Lahoud dies at 68: a look back at his life

The head of the Democratic Renewal Movement former MP Nassib Lahoud passed away at the age of 68 after a long battle with illness.Nassib Lahoud was a Lebanese-Christian political figure born on (23 November 1944 - 2 February 2012) in Baabdat - Matn, Lebanon.

He has held various political posts including Ambassador to the USA, Member of Parliament and Minister of State.

He has also been at various times, a serious presidential contender. He is part of the Lahoud family, one of the most prominent Lebanese-Christian political families (See List of political families). Lahoud is the son of ex-Member of Parliament, ex- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense H.E Salim Lahoud (under President Camille Chamoun in the 1960s).

From the beginning of his political life, he situated himself in the opposition to the pro-Syrian governments that ruled the country. He opposed the economic policies of the late prime-minister Rafiq Hariri and to Syrian interference in the Lebanese political scene.

He voted against the constitutional amendments imposed by Syria to extend the mandates of presidents Elias Hrawi (in 1995) and Emile Lahoud (in 2004).

In 2001, he joined the Qornet Shehwan Gathering, regrouping prominent Christian opposition figures under the patronage of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. In 2008, the parliamentary majority designated Lahoud as its presidential nominee but the Hezbollah-led opposition refused to attend a legislative session to elect a new president, thus ensuring there was no quorum.

President Michel Suleiman was later elected by consensus, after Hezbollah supporters attacked majority-affiliated buildings in Beirut, in a show of force reminiscent of the days of the Lebanese civil war.

This was due to a refusal by the government to rescind two controversial executive decrees that aimed to dismantle Hezbollah's private telecommunications system as well as sack the military general responsible for airport security.

Nassib Lahoud was later appointed as Minister of State, as the representative of the Ex-Qornet Shehwan Gathering, in the first government under President Michel Suleiman mandate. He withdrew from the 2009 parliamentary elections.