Emir Talal Arslan ( ar, الأمير طلال أرسلان) is a Lebanese politician, Political Leader of the Druze sect. He is the chief of the Arslan family, who claim to be descendants of the

Lakhmids The Lakhmids ( ar, اللخميون, translit=al-Laḫmiyyūn) referred to in Arabic as al-Manādhirah (, romanized as: ) or Banu Lakhm (, romanized as: ) was an Arab kingdom in Southern Iraq and Eastern Arabia, with al-Hirah as their capita ...

Early life

Arslan was born in Choueifat to the late Druze leader Emir

Majid Arslan Emir Majid Toufic Arslan ( ar, الأمير مجيد توفيق أرسلان) (February 1908 — September 18, 1983) was a Lebanese Druze leader and head of the Arslan feudal Druze ruling family. Arslan was the leader of the Yazbaki (Arslan affi ...

. He studied at Charley Saad school in Choueifat, now known as SABIS International School. He then moved to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

to continue his studies at St. Augustine School because of the war in Lebanon. Before taking over his duties, his mother, ''Emirah'' Khawlah Majid Arslan, was the family chief. During her reign his brother, Emir

Faysal Arslan Emir Faysal Arslan (Arabic فيصل أرسلان; October 1941 – 20 December 2009, in Aley, Lebanon). He was the chief of the Arslan family, descendants of the Lakhmids after the death of his father Emir Majid Arslan in 1983. He continued with t ...

, was also involved in politics. Arslan has a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in political sciences from

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress, GWU is the largest Higher educat ...

and a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

from the American University of Beirut.Arslan Talal, Minister of The Displaced, Baabda-Aley MP
Lebanonwire.

Family and personal life

Arslan met his wife Zeina Kheireddin, now known as Emira Zeina Talal Arslan, in London. They got married on 17 July 1993 and bore two children: Emir Majid and Emirah Kinda. Arslan resides in "Khaldeh Palace", or "Dar Khaldeh", located in

Khalde Khaldah ( ar, خلدة) is a coastal town located south of Beirut, Lebanon. It is famous as a tourist destination in the summer, especially for its various beach resorts. The southern portion of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport is loc ...

, Choueifat, Lebanon. The palace has been the residence of the chief of the Arslan family since the beginning of the 20th century. It is the official residence of other members of the family such as Emira Khawla Majid and Emira Zeina Majid. Before that, the official residence of the head of the dynasty was in the "Serail of the Arslan family" in Choueifat ( ar, سراي الأمير جمال الدّين الأرسلاني) that was built in the 17th century and is still used today by family members for private retreats.

Political career

Arslan was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a deputy of the

Aley District Aley ( ar, عاليه) is a district ('' qadaa'') in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, to the south-east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut. The capital is Aley. Aley city was previously known as the "bride of the summers" during the 1960 and 1970s, when Al ...

in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2009 and 2018, losing his seat between 2005 and 2009. From 1990 to 1992 he was the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, from 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Emigrants and served as Minister of State twice from 2000 to 2003 and from 2003 to 2004. Emir Talal founded the

Lebanese Democratic Party The Lebanese Democratic Party ( ar, الحزب الديمقراطي اللبناني, al-ḥizb ad-dīmuqrāṭī al-Lubnānī'') is a political party in Lebanon established by Prince Talal Arslan and Marwan Abou Fadel in 2001. Prince Talal i ...

along with Marwan Bey Abou Fadel in 2001. He is also affectionately called "al-damaneh" ( ar, الضمانة) meaning "The Guarantee", by his followers. He was defeated in the 2022 Lebanese parliamentary elections.

Cabinet positions

Minister of Tourism The Minister of Tourism is the head of the governmental department that specializes in tourism, recreation and/or culture. The position exists in many different countries under several names: *Ministry of Tourism and Environment (Albania) * Minist ...

: 24 December 1990 - 16 May 1992. *Minister of Emigrants: 7 November 1996 - 4 December 1998. *

Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In ...

: 26 October 2000 - 26 October 2004. *Minister of The Displaced: 26 October 2004 - 19 April 2005. * Minister of Sports and Youth: 11 July 2008 - 9 November 2009. *

: 13 June 2011 - 14 June 2011.

2011 Cabinet resignation

Arslan resigned after not providing the Druze in general, and his party (

) in particular, a "key ministerial portfolio". He stated "I cannot participate in a Cabinet in which Mikati says that the Druze do not have a right to be assigned a key ministerial portfolio...Mikati is conspiring against coexistence in the country." He further accused Mikati of trying to ignite a conflict within March 8 by lying to the public and attempting to embarrass Hezbollah by stalling the formation of a new government. Security officials said that his supporters in his stronghold of

blocked the highway leading to the village and fired gunshot rounds in the air to protest Mikati cabinet. Moreover they blocked the international highway leading to Damascus in Mount Lebanon as well as main roads in the Chouf District and in South Lebanon; in

Hasbaya Hasbeya or Hasbeiya ( ar, حاصبيا) is a town in Lebanon, situated at the foot of Mount Hermon, overlooking a deep amphitheatre from which a brook flows to the Hasbani. In 1911, the population was about 5000. Hasbaya is the capital of the Wa ...

Post resignation

The resignation of Arslan had a negative effect on the

March 8 Alliance The March 8 Alliance ( ar, تحالف 8 آذار, taḥāluf 8 adhār}) is a coalition of political parties and independents in Lebanon formed in 2005 that are united by their pro-Syrian stance and their opposition to the March 14 Alliance. I ...

that was criticised for letting down Arslan whose party was a major ally in it. Therefore many key people in the alliance—such as the speaker of parliament

Nabih Berri Nabih Berri ( ar, نبيه مصطفى بري, translit=Nabīh Muṣṭafā Barriyy, links=hh; born 28 January 1938) is a Lebanese Shia politician who has been serving as Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon since 1992. He heads the Amal Moveme ...

—contacted Arslan trying to find a suitable solution for the representation of the LDP in general and Arslan in particular in the newly formed government. After weeks of discussions the resolution allowed Arslan to name a minister to take his place as

so that the government will be complete (with 30 ministers) and the political hole would be recovered. Thus, Marwan Kheireddine became the representative of the Lebanese Democratic Party in the Government of Lebanon .

References

External links

*
Talal Arslan

Arslan’s resignation from Cabinet ‘final’: party official
''The Daily Star'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Arslan, Talal 1965 births Living people People from Aley District Talal Lebanese Druze Lebanese princes Lebanese Democratic Party politicians Tourism ministers of Lebanon American University of Beirut alumni Columbian College of Arts and Sciences alumni Displaced ministers of Lebanon Ministers without portfolio of Lebanon