Listen to the article
Although Lebanon faces a year without a President, and despite the efforts of the Group of Five, parliamentary talks remain at an impasse. This crisis threatens crucial reforms for the economy and social well-being. In this context, the impact of Lebanon’s third President (1958-1964), Fouad Chehab, and his political legacy, Chehabism, deserve attention. Adel Hamiyeh, former Minister and current President of the Fouad Chehab Foundation, shares his analysis.
The memory of Fouad Chehab, Lebanese president from 1958 to 1964, endures with the support of the foundation bearing his name. In a six-year presidency, he sought to establish the foundations of a robust, modern state with institutions aimed at mitigating communal divisions. Nicknamed the “Father of the National Army,” Chehab remains a visionary leader whose integrity and dedication left a mark on Lebanon. He wanted national affiliations to transcend communal ones. Adel Hamiyeh emphasizes, “He was unwavering in the face of communal prejudices.”
While corruption concerned a few of his contemporaries, Chehab saw it as an obstacle to development and a danger to social cohesion. Despite Lebanon’s young sovereignty, Chehab initiated major reforms. Among his institutional creations were the Central Inspection, Social Security, the Central Bank, and many others. In just one year in office, he enacted 162 decree laws, radically modernizing the Lebanese administrative apparatus.
What sets Chehab apart is his deep attachment to the Lebanese Constitution, which he affectionately called “the Book.” Adel Hamiyeh, recalling this anecdote, underscores that for a man of faith like Chehab, this appellation reveals the immense esteem he held for the founding document of 1926.
Many leaders would have succumbed to the allure of extended power. Yet, in 1964, when some deputies wanted to amend the Constitution to grant him a second term, Fouad Chehab declined. Another revealing act of his personality is his attempt to resign in 1960. He declared, “I’ve set the train on the tracks… I’ve had enough of these selfish political maneuvers” and submitted his resignation. On the same day, a crowd from across Lebanon gathered outside his residence in Jounieh, begging him to stay. Touched, he withdrew his resignation that evening.
This episode illustrates his selflessness and the admiration that the Lebanese people have for him. His integrity, altruism, and vision of a united Lebanon are valuable lessons for today’s generations.
| Foundations of Chehabism | Foundations of the Current Ideology |
| Balanced and harmonized development between areas | Capital-limited development |
| Nation-State | City-State |
| Humanist Republic | Trade Republic |
| Regulating and entrepreneurial State | Absence of State and Liberal Economy |
| Sectarian balance | Marginalization |
| Sovereignty | Occupation |
As Lebanon is shaken by successive crises, Chehab’s vision and integrity appear as a necessary compass. His philosophy, distant from sectarian quarrels, should serve as a model for current leaders. Chehabism, as illustrated in Marwan Harb’s table above, could prove to be the guiding light that the country needs.
