Taymur Walid Jumblatt (Arabic: تيمور وليد جنبلاط, romanizedTaymūr Walīd Junblāṭṭ; born 1982) is a Lebanese politician of the Druze community and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party since 2023 and its parliamentary bloc, the Democratic Gathering, since 2018.

Taymour Jumblatt
تيمور جنبلاط
Taymour Jumblatt in 2015
Leader of the Progressive Socialist Party
Assumed office
25 May 2023
Preceded byWalid Jumblatt
Member of the Lebanese Parliament
Assumed office
15 May 2018
Preceded byWalid Jumblatt
ConstituencyChouf (2018, 2022)
Personal details
Born1982 (age 41–42)
NationalityLebanese
Political partyProgressive Socialist Party
SpouseDiana Zu'aytir
ParentWalid Jumblatt (father)
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education

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Jumblatt was born in 1982.[1] He is the son of the leader Walid Jumblatt and grandson of Kamal Jumblatt who are members of the historic Druze Jumblatt clan in the Chouf mountains.

He was educated at the American University of Beirut (BA in political science), and Sorbonne University, France, (MA in political science).[2]

Career

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In 2011 he became second in command of the Progressive Socialist Party behind his father, Walid.[3] In the May 2018 elections, he was elected a member of the Lebanese Parliament, representing the Chouf-Aley district in Mount-Lebanon Governorate.[2] He is a member of the World Economic Forum.[2]

Taymur took over the power from Walid Jumblatt in March 2017 as he was a political heir which was part of the traditional dynastic politics that plays a big role in the Lebanese government.[4][5][6] The handover was done at 40th anniversary of Kamal Jumblatt’s assassination at a ceremony where Walid placed a traditional keffiyeh scarf on Taymur's shoulders.[1][7]

In late May 2023, his father, Walid Jumblatt declared his resignation as leader of the Progressive Socialist Party after a 46-year tenure. Around 2,000 supporters gathered in Ain Zhalta, a Druze town in the Chouf mountains, where members of the Progressive Socialist Party named Jumblatt as their new leader.[8] Jumblatt was the sole contender.[8]

Personal life

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Jumblatt is married to Diana Zu'ytar who descends from a Shiite family based in the Beqaa Valley.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Eyal Zisser (Fall 2017). "Under the Glass Ceiling and in the Family 'Cage': The Role of Women in Lebanese Politics". The Journal for Interdisciplinary Middle Eastern Studies. 1: 16. doi:10.26351/1.
  2. ^ a b c "Taymour Jumblatt". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  3. ^ Dagher, Ramez (2015-03-20). "Introducing Taymour". Moulahazat. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  4. ^ "Taymur Jumblatt becomes leader of Lebanon's Druze community". Qantara.de - Dialogue with the Islamic World. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  5. ^ "Meeting a retired warlord and the spiritual leaders of the Druze". TheTLS. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  6. ^ "The future of Lebanon's political dynasties". The National. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  7. ^ "Taymour Jumblatt". Syria Comment. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  8. ^ a b AFP. "Lebanon's main Druze party names new leader, son of longtime party chief". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.