Michel Suleiman

president of Lebanon

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Michel Suleiman served as the president of Lebanon from May 2008 to May 2014. His election followed a period of political stalemate and violence, and he was instrumental in forming a new unity government. By convention, the Lebanese president must be a Maronite Christian, and Suleiman, a former general, filled this role. His presidency saw efforts to reconcile political factions and navigate complex regional dynamics, including the ongoing role of Hezbollah in Lebanese politics and the establishment of a UN Special Tribunal to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic al-Hariri.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Saad al-Hariri
Premiership
Michel Suleiman to take on the complex task of forming a new government. In September, after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations with the opposition, Hariri announced that he would abandon his attempts to form a unity government and would step down as prime minister-designate. The following…
Read More
Michel Suleiman to take on the complex task of forming a new government. In September, after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations with the opposition, Hariri announced that he would abandon his attempts to form a unity government and would step down as prime minister-designate. The following…
Read More

Lebanon
Factional wrangling over Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon
Michel Suleiman was elected president. He reappointed Fouad Siniora, who had been prime minister since mid-2005, at the head of a new unity government soon thereafter, and, after several weeks of negotiation, the makeup of the new government was agreed upon. Reconciliation efforts continued, and…
Read More
Michel Suleiman was elected president. He reappointed Fouad Siniora, who had been prime minister since mid-2005, at the head of a new unity government soon thereafter, and, after several weeks of negotiation, the makeup of the new government was agreed upon. Reconciliation efforts continued, and…
Read More