Samy Gemayel

His grandfather, Pierre Gemayel, founded the Kataeb Party in 1936.

Gemayel is also the nephew of the assassinated former President-elect Bachir Gemayel.

Samy Amine Gemayel (سامي الجميّل, born 3 December 1980) is a Lebanese politician, lawyer and a member of the Lebanese parliament.

Gemayel was born into a prominent Maronite Catholic family in Lebanon on 3 December 1980.

He is the son of former Lebanese President and former Kataeb Party President Amine Gemayel and his wife Joyce Gemayel.

assassinated on 14 September 1982, 20 days after his election as president of the republic.

In 1999, Gemayel was influential in establishing what was then known as the "Kataeb Base"– a platform of students peacefully fighting to end Syria's occupation of Lebanon.

Gemayel holds a B.A. in law (2003) and a M.A. in public law (2005) from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

He also holds two certificates in leadership training from Harvard University.

In 2003, he joined the Kataeb's Reform Movement that opposed the then pro-Syrian mainstream parties.

Gemayel participated and led several demonstrations and peaceful sit-ins during that period, often being beaten and arrested with other pro-independence demonstrators.

Shortly after the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April 2005, Gemayel co-founded with a number of political activists, 12-"Alliance Loubnanouna (Our Lebanon) a workgroup, advocating scholarly research and informed debate on a federal/decentralized political system for Lebanon. Separate from the Kataeb Party. Gemayel's movement aimed at reuniting the politically divided Lebanese Christians. He is an outspoken critic of both Hezbollah's military wing, as well as the Michel Aoun-led Free Patriotic Movement, and the main Christian party in opposition to March 14 Movement. In a 2006 interview following the 2006 Lebanon War, Gemayel accused Hezbollah of wanting "to implement an Islamic state in Lebanon," also adding that "Hezbollah is functioning as [its own] state: political power, economical power, social allegiance, military power, a region where it imposes its laws... all the attributes of a state."

He expressed his hope that Lebanese Christians would reunite under similar political stances, and stressed that the Phalange is open to all Christians.

His older brother, Pierre, was a Member of Parliament and the Minister of Industry until his assassination on 21 November 2006.

After the assassination of his brother Pierre Amine Gemayel in November 2006, Gemayel re-joined the Kataeb Party to head the party's Youth and Student Council.

In 2008, he was appointed as coordinator of the Kataeb's Central Committee.

Early in 2009, the Phalange (Kataeb Party) announced that it struck a deal with Michel Murr for a political alliance in the Matn District in the Lebanese parliamentary elections that were to be held in June.

They declared that Samy Gemayel would run for a seat in parliament as one of two Phalangists hoping to represent the Matn District of Lebanon, the other being Elie Karami.

On 3 April 2009, Sami officially announced his candidacy and again stated that "Christian unity is the only solution" to Lebanon's problems.

After his nomination in February 2009, Samy had constantly stressed the importance of all Lebanese voting in the upcoming elections.

On 21 February, he stated that the Christian voters would make the difference in a choice between "Lebanon, the country of Resistance and the main state to be affected by the Arab–Israeli conflict or Lebanon, the non-aligned and democratic country."

Gemayel has also stated that the Phalange would not make any agreement or reconcile with the Free Patriotic Movement as long as the latter continued to stand in support of Hezbollah bearing arms.

In 2009, Gemayel was elected into parliament.

Member of three Parliamentary committees: Human Rights; Education and Culture; as well as Security and Local Governance.

He presented several draft laws related to local governance and decentralization, neutrality of Lebanon, women rights, free education, and anti-corruption.

In May 2010, he criticized Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah, asking him if he thought that all Lebanese who shared the Phalange's views were "Israeli agents."

In addition to ensuring free textbooks for all students in public schools starting September 2012, Gemayel is primarily known for his success in abolishing honour crimes in Lebanon through a law proposal he presented before the Parliament in 2011.

He also thrived in lobbying for and passing a law against domestic violence in 2014.

Gemayel took part in several panels at universities, schools, and various social clubs where he talked about the particular role of youth in political accountability, good governance, and political ethics.

In addition, he has written several articles for local and international bulletins and newspapers on topics related to the permanent crisis in Lebanon, cultural pluralism, federalism and decentralization, collective memory and the foundations of genuine national reconciliation.

In addition, Gemayel has represented Lebanon before the UN during panels dedicated to women's rights and participation in STME.

Following a long count, Gemayel was elected into parliament.

Of seven seats possible to win in the Matn District, one went to Samy, one to ally Michel Murr, and the remaining to the Free Patriotic Movement led by Michel Aoun.

Being elected as party president in 2015, he presently serves as the seventh leader of the Lebanese Kataeb Party which was founded by his grandfather, Pierre Gemayel.

He is a critic of the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah.

In his youth, he took part in pro-independence protest movements against the pro-Syrian political parties.

In June 2015, he was elected as Leader of the Kataeb Party, and was re-elected in February 2019, during the 31st party congress.

In 2016, Gemayel married Karine Tadmori in Bikfaya.

They have two daughters, Joyce and Kamy, and are currently expecting a third child.

Following the 2020 Beirut explosions, he stated that five members of the Kataeb Party will be resigning on 8 August 2020.