Victor Kassir

Victor Kassir
Deputy Prime Minister
In office April 1984 – September 1988
Prime Minister	Rashid Karami Selim Hoss
Minister of Industry and Economy
In office April 1984 – September 1988
Prime Minister	Rashid Karami Selim Hoss
Personal details
Born	1910 Beirut, Ottoman Empire
Died	13 October 1997 (aged 86–87)
Spouse	Bert Merhej
Alma mater	Saint Joseph University
Occupation	Businessman

Victor Kassir (Arabic: فكتور قصير; 1910–1997) was a Lebanese businessman and politician who was the deputy prime minister and minister of industry and economy between 1984 and 1988.

Early life and education

Kassir was born in Beirut in 1910.[1] He descended from a Greek Orthodox family.[2] He received a bachelor's degree in commercial sciences in 1930 from Saint Joseph University in Beirut.[1]

Career

Following his graduation Kassir began to involve in business.[1] In 1958 he was elected as a member of the Orthodox Finance Council.[1] He headed the merchants association from 1972 to 1994.[3] He was a member of the advisory committee of the Banque du Liban, a member of the Beirut Club, and a board member of the Banque Libano-Francaise.[1] In fact, Kassir was one of the owners of the latter together with Farid Raphael and the Kassar brothers, Adnan and Nadim.[4]

Kassir was the deputy prime minister and the minister of economy and industry in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Rashid Karami in the period 29 April 1984–22 September 1988.[5][6]

Personal life and death

Kassir was married to Bert Merhej, and they had four children.[1] He died on 13 October 1997.[1]

Awards

Kassir was the recipient of the following:

• National Order of the Cedar (rank of officer)[1]
• Order of Merit (rank of commander)[1]
• Order of Saint Peter the Great[1]

References

1. "آل قصير" (in Arabic). Ya Beyrouth. Retrieved 6 February 2022. Citing Lebanese Ministerial Dictionary, p. 315
2. Thomas L. Friedman (1 May 1984). "Unity cabinet is named in Lebanon". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
3. S. Baroudi (2001). "Conflict and Co-operation within Lebanon's Business Community: Relations between Merchant's and Industrialists' Associations". Middle Eastern Studies. 37 (4): 78. doi:10.1080/714004420. S2CID 154229674.
4. Najib Hourani (2015). "Capitalists in Conflict: The Lebanese Civil War Reconsidered". Middle East Critique. 24 (2): 150. doi:10.1080/19436149.2015.1012842. S2CID 144769983.
5. "Former Ministers" (in Arabic). Ministry of Industry. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
6. David B. Ottaway (1 May 1984). "Cabinet Proposed In Lebanon". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 February 2022.