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Majid Arslan

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Majid Arslan

Emir Majid Toufic Arslan (Arabic: الأمير مجيد توفيق أرسلان; February 1908 — September 18, 1983) was a Lebanese Druze leader and head of the Arslan feudal Druze ruling family. As a za'im (political boss), Arslan was the leader of the Yazbaki (Arslan affiliations) faction. Majid Arslan was a national political figure with a role in Lebanon's independence, a long-running Member of the Lebanese Parliament. During his time as a government minister, he held number of important ministerial portfolios, most notably Defense, Health, Telecommunications, Agriculture and Justice.

Arslan was the son of Emir Toufic Arslan who helped found Greater Lebanon in 1920. He had three brothers (Nouhad, Riad, Melhem) and a sister (Zahia). Emir Majid studied at the famous French school, Mission Laïque Française.

In 1932, he married his cousin, Emira Lamiss Shehab. They had two sons: Emir Toufic (1935–2003) and Emir Faysal (1941–2009).

In 1956, after his first wife’s death, Emir Majid remarried Khawla Jumblatt. They had three daughters (Zeina, Rima, and Najwa) and a son, Talal, current Head of the House of Arslan and a Druze leader.

He was known for his exceptional skills in horsemanship and would often exercise his hobby in a southern village El Mageedieh (3 km2), named after him.

Throughout his political career, he had an intense rivalry with Kamal Jumblatt over the leadership amongst the Druze. He has been the longest serving Lebanese politician in a ministerial office and was elected as the Defense Minister twenty two times.

Emir Majid Arslan ran for parliamentary elections in 1931 and won the Druze seat of Aley Cazaa district. His allies also won the elections. From 1931 until his death in 1983, he and his allies would win all the parliamentary elections of 1934, 1937, 1943, 1947, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972.

Over a period of 35 years, Emir Majid Arslan held various ministerial posts.

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