Sami Gemayel Elected Head of Kataeb Party
MP Sami Gemayel won the internal elections of the Kataeb Party on Sunday, becoming the party's seventh chairman and succeeding his father, former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel.
Gemayel received 339 votes as his only contender, the journalist Pierre Atallah, garnered only 37.
“At this moment, my thoughts go to all the martyrs and all those who fell in order for us to be here today,” the MP said at the party's headquarters in Saifi after his win was declared.
The elections were held on the third day of Kataeb's 30th conference.
Two deputy chiefs and a new political bureau were also elected on Sunday.
“I feel a very heavy burden and I will shoulder a huge responsibility. My daily work will be alongside all Kataeb members, all Lebanese and all decent people,” Gemayel pledged.
“I salute Pierre Atallah and the members of Kataeb and I thank them for the confidence that they placed in me,” he added.
The lawmaker also thanked his father, the party's outgoing chief Amin Gemayel, for “giving the chance to all the members of Kataeb to run in this democratic battle.”
Kataeb has an economic and social plan for Lebanon that would once again give the people hope, Gemayel had declared after announcing his candidacy on Wednesday.
“Kataeb is open to all Lebanese from all over Lebanon, regardless of their sect. It is open to all youths who seek Lebanon's interests,” he stated.
In May, Sami's father Amin had announced that he would not be running for a new term at the head of the party. He had been the head of the party since February 2008.
The young Sami was born on December 3, 1980.
His older brother, Pierre, was a member of parliament and the minister of industry until his assassination on November 21, 2006.
His grandfather, Pierre Gemayel, founded the Kataeb party in 1936. Sami is also the nephew of slain president-elect Bashir Gemayel, who was assassinated in 1982.
After the 2006 assassination of his brother Pierre, Sami rejoined the Kataeb Party to head the Youth and Student Council and he later became the coordinator of the Central Committee.
He had left the party in 2006 to form the Loubnanouna Movement.
Y.R.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/182065 |