Edmond Rizk

Edmond Rizk (1934), politician, lawyer, deputy and former Lebanese minister.
== Upbringing and education ==
Edmond Rizk was born on March 11, 1934, in Jezzine town, southern Lebanon. He used to define himsalf as: "Lebanese in my entirety, because Lebanese includes humanity in its finest manifestations", and "that he is an authentic Arab". And he says about his family that they are "Lebanese, Maronite, with Arab passion and Islamic affinity." His father, Amin Rizk (1890–1983) was a writer, journalist, poet, and editor-in-chief of the two newspapers Al-Hadith and Al-Ruwad. He completed his primary and middle studies at Sayeda Mashmousha School in Jezzine, his secondary school studies at Al-Hikma School in Beirut, then he joined Saint Joseph University, where he studied law.
== Professional career ==
He practiced law since 1958 and was included in the office of Representative Shafiq Nassif. He was one of the lawyers team that represented Samir Geagea after his arrest in 1994. And he represented Bashir Al jommayl's family in his assassination case. He also worked in education fiald, where he was teaching Arabic language and literature at Al-Hikma and Al-Ahlia Schools for Girls, Anthony Institute in Baabda, and in the Lebanese Institute in Beit Chabeb. Rizk was active for many years in the press and radio. He was member of the Editors Syndicate and he wrote on Al-Rowad, Nidaa Al-Watan, Politics, Al-Anwar, Al-Amal, Al-Nahar, Al-Liwa, Al-Bairaq, Al-Hawadith, Al-Masira. He also worked as a political commentator on Radio Lebanon and on Lebanon TV.
== Al Kataeb Party ==
In 1945, he joined the "Firqat Al-Ahdath" (Al-Ahdath Division) in the Lebanese battalion, which was active at the time as a youth organization.
He was also assigned with Joseph Shader to represent the party in the Follow-up and Coordination Committee formed by the Triple Alliance to formulate a common programme that gathers the battalions with the Liberals, the National Bloc, and independents in preparation for the 1968 elections. Rizk was one of the thirty candidates in the alliance that won in those elections, and the first battalion's member in Jezzine district to enter parliament. He left the party in 1984, after the death of its founder, Pierre Al jommayel, after entering into a dispute with his new leadership. Rizk was known for his linguistic eloquence, to the extent that he was named one of the preachers of the Three battalions, along with Elias Rababy and Louis Abu Sharaf.
== Deputies chamber ==
Edmond Rizk entered the Deputies chamber in 1968 after winning one of the two Maronits in Jezzine district after he managed to penetrate the rival Chehab list led by Jean Aziz. He got 8025 votes, compared to 7812 for Maroun Kanaan. His entire list won the 1972 elections, obtaining 8,324 votes, while his Maronite ally Farid Serhal obtained 8873 votes, and their colleague from the Roman Catholics Nadim Salem obtained 8648. He participated as a deputy in the presidential elections of 1970, 1976, August 1982, September 1982, November 5, 1989, and November 22, 1989. Rizk remained active in the battalion bloc until his resignation in 1984, with Louis Abu Sharaf, after they objected to voting in favor of Hussein Al-Husseini for the presidency of the Council. He belonged between 1987 and 1989 to the Independent Parliamentary Bloc. He plaLyed an important role in drafting the Taif Agreement as a member of the National Accord Document Drafting Committee, until he became seen as one of the references to the constitution that emerged from it. In 2001, he founded the "Meeting of the Document and the Constitution" along with a number of deputies who participated in the conference. Since 1992, he has refrained from participating in the parliamentary elections. In 2018, his son Amin ran in the first South District (Sidon–Jezzine) in alliance with the Future Movement, but was defeated by Ibrahim Azar and Ziad Aswad.
== In the ministry ==
* Minister of National Education and Fine Arts, in April 1973, in the government of Amin Al-Hafiz.
* Minister of National Education and Fine Arts, in July 1973, in the government of Taqi al-Din al-Solh.
* Minister of Justice and Information, in November 1989, in the government of Salim al-Hoss.
== Writings ==
* "Ranin Alfarah" (The Ring of Joy) (1958).
* "Arae wa Dimae " (Opinions and Blood) (1971).
* "Al Ithna Asharya" (the dozen), It is the first collection of his complete works, it included the following books: FI Sbil Lobnan (For Lebanon) – Shahada Fi Sabil Al Samet (Testimony in a Time of Silence) – Arae Wa Dimae (Opinions and Blood) (Second Edition) – Al Alaqa Al Soorya (The Syrian Relationship) – Mosharaka Fo Al Islam (Participation in Islam) (selections from sermons on the pulpits of mosques and Husseiniyas, and articles on Islamic occasions) – Fi Kanaf Al Masih (in the care of Christ) – Ranin Al Farah (The Ringing of Joy) (Second Edition) – Habab Al Mae (Water beads) – Nashid Al Ghorba (the anthem of exile) – Ayam Al Taraf (the days of luxury) – Fi Adkarehem (in their remembrances) – Al Milqat (the forceps), (1996)
Category:Arab writers
Category:Lebanese writers
Category:Lebanese people