Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa ( ar, خليفة بن سلمان آل خليفة) (24 November 1935 – 11 November 2020) was a Bahraini royal and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain from 10 January 1970 until his death in 2020. He took office over a year before Bahrain's independence on 15 August 1971. He was the longest-serving prime minister in the world. Under the 2002 Constitution he lost some of his powers, with the King now having the authority to appoint and (along with the Bahraini parliament) dismiss ministers. Prince Khalifa was also the paternal uncle of the reigning King

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa ( ar, حمد بن عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة '; 28 January 1950) is King of Bahrain since 14 February 2002, after ruling as Emir of Bahrain from 6 March 1999. He is the son of Isa bin Salm ...

and grand-uncle of the Crown Prince Salman, since he was the younger brother of the previous Emir

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (; 3 June 1931 – 6 March 1999) was the first emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death in 1999. Born in Jasra, Bahrain, he became emir upon the death of his father, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Early life and reign ...

Early life and education

Prince Khalifa was born on 24 November 1935, the second son of Salman ibn Hamad Al Khalifa,

Hakim of Bahrain The King of the Kingdom of Bahrain ( ar, ملك مملكة البحرين) is the monarch and head of state of Bahrain. The House of Khalifa has been the ruling family since 1783. Between 1783 and 1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of ha ...

, and his wife Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa. He was educated at Manama High School and the Rifa’a Palace School in Bahrain.

Career

Prince Khalifa was a member of the education council from 1956 to 1958 and chair between 1958 and 1961. Next he became the director of the finance department (1961–1966), president of the electricity board (1961), chair of the Manama municipal council (1962–1967), head of the Bahrain monetary council (1964), chair of the joint committee for economic and financial studies, committee member for the register of commerce, then chairman of the administrative affairs council (1967–1969), became board member of the Bahrain monetary agency and then chairperson of the State Council (1972–1974), head of the State Council (1972), and head of the supreme defence council (1977). Prince Khalifa was appointed as prime minister by his brother Emir

, in 1971. Therefore, he was assigned the control of government and economy, while his brother, the Emir, was involved in diplomatic and ceremonial affairs. Prince Khalifa received a World Peace Culture Award on 6 August 2017. Prince Khalifa is the founder of the Housing Ministry, and he reformed the

Central Bank of Bahrain The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) is the central bank of Bahrain. It is a public corporate entity established by the ''Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law 2006.'' It was created on 6 September 2006. ''Decree No. 64 of 2006 with ...

. During his premiership he was the head of the Oil and Economic Policy Council.

Views

In 2011, reporter Bill Law stated that Prince Khalifa was a hardliner, whereas Crown Prince Salman, his grandnephew who is also deputy prime minister, was a reformer and the

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

was somewhere in the middle of the two.

Marriage and children

Prince Khalifa married his cousin Hessa bint Ali Al Khalifa, the fourth daughter of Ali bin Hamad Al Khalifa in

Muharraq Muharraq ( ar, المحرق, al-Muḥarraq) is Bahrain's third largest city and served as its capital until 1932 when it was replaced by Manama. The population of Muharraq in 2012 was 176,583. The city is located on Muharraq Island. Bahrain Int ...

. They had three sons and one daughter: * Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa (-1974). * Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa – Deputy Prime Minister. He married Zayn bint Khalid Al Khalifa with whom he has three sons and one daughter: ** Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa ** Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa ** Minwa bint Ali Al Khalifa ** Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa * Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa * Lulwa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa – honorary president of the Al Noor beneficence society. She married

Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa (born 1952) is a member of the Bahraini royal family, an artist and the Chairman of Bahrain's National Council for Arts. He is the first president and the current honorary president of the Bahrain Arts Societ ...

(1952-), artist and patron of the arts. They have four sons and three daughters. ** Noor bint Rashid Al Khalifa ** Khalifa bin Rashid Al Khalifa ** Hassa bint Rashid Al Khalifa ** Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa ** Aysha bint Rashid Al Khalifa ** Mohammed bin khlaifa Al Khalifa

Death

Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa experienced various health problems. In September 2019, he went to Germany for treatment, and returned to Bahrain in March 2020. He headed the cabinet last time in July 2020 and went to the US for treatment in August 2020. Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa died at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota on 11 November 2020 at the age of 84, 13 days before his 85th birthday. Serving 50 years and 11 months in office, he was the world's longest serving prime minister in history at the time of his death. Bahraini authorities have ordered a seven-day national mourning period with flags half-masted and government institutions closed for three days. Bangladesh declared November 17 as the day of state mourning with flags half-masted. He was buried at Hunainiyah Cemetery in Riffa on 11 November 2020.

Honours

;Foreign honours * : Honorary Grand Commander of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace ...

(SMN, 30 January 2001) * :

Order of Sikatuna The Order of Sikatuna ( fil, Orden ng Sikatuna) is the national order of diplomatic merit of the Republic of the Philippines. It is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippin ...

(7 November 2001) * : Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of Isabella the Catholic The Order of Isabella the Catholic ( es, Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order and honor granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations a ...

(4 December 1981)

References

External links

Khalifa's biography
nbsp;– official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Bahrainprimeminister.net
nbsp;– website about Khalifa and his family) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Khalifa, Khalifa Al 1935 births 2020 deaths Commanders First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog Grand Collars of the Order of Lakandula Grand Officers of the National Order of the Cedar Grand Officiers of the Légion d'honneur

Khalifa Khalifa or Khalifah (Arabic: خليفة) is a name or title which means "successor", "ruler" or "leader". It most commonly refers to the leader of a Caliphate, but is also used as a title among various Islamic religious groups and others. Khalif ...

Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic People of the Bahraini uprising of 2011 Prime Ministers of Bahrain People named in the Pandora Papers