Wael Nader Al-Halqi ( ar, وائل نادر الحلقي, Wāʾil Nādir al-Ḥalqī; born 4 February 1964) is a Syrian politician who was
Prime Minister of Syria
The prime minister of Syria (Arabic: رئيس وزراء سوريا), formally titled the president of the Council of Ministers ( ar, رئيس مجلس الوزراء), is the head of government of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Nomination
The prime ...
from 2012 to 2016. Previously he was Minister of Health from 2011 to 2012. He was appointed as Prime Minister on 9 August 2012.
Early life and education
Halqi was born in
Jasim in the
Daraa Governorate on 4 February 1964 into a
Sunni Muslim
Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word ''Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagree ...
family.
He earned a degree in medicine (MD) from the
University of Damascus in 1987 and a master's degree in
gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined are ...
and
obstetrics
Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...
again from the University of Damascus in 1991.
[
]
Career
Halqi served as director of primary health care in Jasim from 1997 to 2000 and was secretary of the Daraa branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
The Arab Socialist Baʿath Party ( ar, حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي ' ) was a political party founded in Syria by Mishel ʿAflaq, Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn al-Bītār, and associates of Zaki al-ʾArsūzī. The party espoused B ...
from 2000 to 2004.[ He was appointed as Prime Minister of Syria on 9 August 2012 by President Bashar Assad, after his predecessor Riyad Farid Hijab fled to Jordan and declared his allegiance to the ]Syrian opposition
The Syrian opposition ( ar, المعارضة السورية ', ) is the political structure represented by the Syrian National Coalition and associated Syrian anti-Assad groups with certain territorial control as an alternative Syrian gover ...
.
Assassination attempt
In April 2013, Halqi survived an apparent assassination
Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have ...
attempt by car bombing in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. The assassination attempt killed six people.Six die but Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki survives bomb attack on convoy in Damascus
''The Independent''
Personal life
Dr al Halqi is married and has four children,[ one daughter and three sons.
]
See also
* Cabinet of Syria