Edmond Wadih Naim (; 1918 – January 23, 2006) was a Lebanese politician, jurist and governor of the

Banque du Liban ''Banque du Liban'' (; English: Bank of Lebanon) is the central bank of Lebanon. It was established on August 1, 1963, and became fully operational on April 1, 1964. In 2023, Wassim Mansouri stepped up as interim governor of the Banque du Lib ...

Biography

Early life and education

Edmond Naïm was born to a Maronite Catholic family in the town of

Chiyah Shiyyah or Chiyah () is a suburb located south of the Lebanese capital of Beirut and is part of Greater Beirut. Location Shiyyah is located in the southwest suburbs of the capital Beirut, bordered by Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Hadath, Hazmiyeh, F ...

in the

Greater Beirut Greater Beirut () is the urban agglomeration comprising the city of Beirut (Beirut Governorate) and the adjacent municipalities over the Mount Lebanon Governorate. It does not constitute a single administrative unit. Greater Beirut geographicall ...

region in the year 1918. He studied at the Jesuit Fathers' School and had a bachelor's degree in Law from the French Law School in

Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...

. In 1941 and received a PhD in law from Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

Career

Naim was a member of the

Progressive Socialist Party The Progressive Socialist Party () is a Lebanese political party. Its confessional base is in the Druze sect and its regional base is in Mount Lebanon Governorate, especially the Chouf District. Founded by Kamal Jumblatt in 1949, the party ...

between 1951 and 1963. He participated in the parliamentary elections in

1957 Events January * January 1 – The Saarland joins West Germany. * January 3 – Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch. * January 5 – South African player Russell Endean becomes the first batsman to be Dismissal (cricke ...

and

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...

but without success. He held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Law of the

Lebanese University The Lebanese University (LU; ) is the only state-funded public university in Lebanon. It was established in 1951. The university's main campus was originally located in Beirut, but a few satellite campuses were opened due to travel restriction ...

in 1961 and was then President of the university in 1970 until 1976. In January 1985, he was elected Governor of Lebanon's Central bank,

. During the Lebanese civil war, he was hailed as hero after he barricaded himself in his office while receiving constant death threats after refusing to lend corrupt government officials any money. In 1994, Naim became

Samir Geagea Samir Farid Geagea (, , also spelled Samir Ja'ja' ; born 25 October 1952) is a Lebanese politician and former militia commander who has been the leader of the Lebanese Forces Lebanese Forces, political party and Lebanese Forces (militia ...

's, head of the Lebanese Forces militia, lawyer as he was tried and accused of war crimes during the

Lebanese Civil war The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...

. In 2005, he was elected as deputy of the Lebanese parliament and was the eldest member of the

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

legislative cycle as a representative of the

Lebanese Forces The Lebanese Forces ( ') is a Lebanon, Lebanese Christianity in Lebanon, Christian-based political party and Lebanese Forces (militia), former militia during the Lebanese Civil War. It currently holds 19 of the 128 seats in Lebanon's Parliamen ...

Death

Edmond Naïm died on January 23, 2006, at the age of 88 from an illness. Naim's seat was replaced by an independent politician, Pierre Daccache, in a by-election.

References

External links

Watch an Interview of Edmond Naim
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naim, Edmond Governors of Banque du Liban Lebanese Forces politicians Saint Joseph University alumni Academic staff of Lebanese University Lebanese lawyers 1918 births 2006 deaths Lebanese Maronites Progressive Socialist Party politicians Lebanese bankers People of the Lebanese Civil War 20th-century Lebanese lawyers