Lebanon: The family business
Examining one of Lebanon’s oldest traditions – the political dynasty.
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In the run-up to Lebanon’s June 7 elections, Lebanon: The family business looks at the complexities of the country’s sectarian politics through the lens of Lebanon’s ‘royal’ family – the Gemayels.
Hereditary politics are part of the DNA of Lebanese politics and no family better illustrates this than the Christian Maronite Gemayels.
Pierre Gemayel, the ‘godfather’ of the dynasty and founder of the Phalange party, was a controversial politician who survived several assassination attempts.
Several of his descendants were less fortunate.
His son, Bashir, was assassinated in 1982 and his grandson, Pierre, in 2006. Several other family members have also been murdered.
But, despite paying such a high price, the Gemayel family continues to pursue the family business founded by Pierre Gemayel more than 70 years ago.
From Pierre the grandfather to Pierre the grandson, Lebanon: The family business tells the story of one of Lebanon’s oldest traditions – the political dynasty.
Lebanon: The family business airs from Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the following times GMT: Sunday: 1400; Monday: 0600, 1900; Tuesday: 0300; Thursday: 1400; Friday: 0600; Saturday: 0300 and 1900.