Nadim Gemayel, son of the assassinated President Bashir Gemayel, is rapidly emerging as a serious political rival to his cousin, Metn MP Pierre Gemeyal, kindling a family feud reminiscent of acrimony that marred relations between their fathers in the 1980s.
The tension peaked this week after the two young Gemayels publicly announced their allegiances in the Sept. 14 Baabda-Aley by-election to fill a parliamentary seat vacated by MP Pierre Helou's sudden death earlier this month. Pierre Gemayel, son of former President Amin Gemayel, is backing the deceased MP's son, Henry Helou; Nadim, has offered open support for Hikmat Deeb, a far right candidate supported by followers of exiled former army commander Gen. Michel Aoun.
The by-election has brought to the surface a power struggle, which the family had tried to keep under wraps since Nadim Gemayel began showing an interest in politics when he turned 21 earlier this year.
The developments have catapulted into the limelight a feudal family that captivated the Lebanese in the 1980s, producing two president – Bashir who was assassinated in 1982 three weeks after his election, and Amin, who rode to power on an emotional wave that was gripping the nation, especially Christians, after the murder of his younger brother in a massive explosion in Ashrafieh.
The discord adds another hurdle for the Christians as they struggle to regain some political clout, but are increasingly undermined by internal divisions, such as the split in the Phalange Party between supporters of its elected president, Karim Pakradouni, and "reformists," led by Amin Gemayel, who is seeking to recover control of the grouping his father founded in the 1930s.
"I did not expect my cousin to challenge me in his debut in politics," An Nahar Tuesday quoted Pierre Gemayel as saying in answer to a question about the rift with his cousin. But, he added, "Nadim remains like my brother Sami to me," insisting political differences would not lead to a family feud.
Nadim Gemayel, for his part, also denied any "personal differences" with his cousin, but in politics, they differ. "My politics are based on principles, others are inspired by personal circumstances and calculations," said the young man who looks and sounds like his father – and certainly displays the same determination.
Beirut, Updated 26 Aug 03, 14:29
Thanks to Naharnet
posted by Rampurple @ 8/26/2003 09:09:00 PM
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