Talal Arslan

Styles of
**Emir Talal Arslan**
Styles of; Emir Talal Arslan
Reference style	His Highness
Spoken style	Your Highness
Alternative style	Sir

His Highness
Emir Talal Arslan
**الأمير طلال أرسلان**
His Highness Emir Talal Arslan ; الأمير طلال أرسلان
Head of the House of Arslan
	In office; 1989–present
Preceded by	Emir Faysal Arslan
Succeeded by	Prince Majid Talal, as Heir apparent
President of the Lebanese Democratic Party
	In office; 2001–present
Member of the Parliament of Lebanon
	In office; 1991–2005
	In office; 2009–present
Minister of Tourism
	In office; 1990–1992
Minister of Emigrants
	In office; 1996–1998
Minister of State
	In office; 2000–2004
	In office; 13 June 2011 – 14 June 2011
Minister of The Displaced
	In office; 2004–2005
Minister of Sports and Youth
	In office; 2008–2009
Personal details
Born	12 June 1965 (age 59); Choueifat, Lebanon
Political party	Lebanese Democratic Party
Spouse	Zeina Kheireddine
Children	Prince Majid (b. 1994) ; Princess Kinda (b. 1996)
Parent(s)	Emir Majid Arslan II ; Khawla Rashid Jumblatt

Emir (Prince) Talal Arslan (Template:Lang-ar) is a Lebanese politician and the head of the mostly Druze Lebanese Democratic Party. He is the chief of the Arslan family, descendants of the Lakhmids.

Early life

Arslan was born in Choueifat to the late Druze leader Emir Majid Arslan. He studied at Charley Saad school in Choueifat, now known as SABIS International School. He then moved to London to continue his studies because of the war in Lebanon. Before taking over his duties, his mother, Emirah Khawlah Majid Arslan, was the family chief. During her reign his brother, Emir Faysal Arslan, was also involved in politics.

Arslan has a bachelor's degree in political sciences from George Washington University and a master's degree from the American University of Beirut.^[1]

Family and personal life

Arslan met his wife Zeina Kheireddin, now known as Emirah Zeina Talal Arslan, in London. They got married on 17 July 1993 and bore two children: Emir Majid (b. 8 April 1994) and Emirah Kinda (b. 30 April 1996).

Arslan resides in "Khaldeh Palace", or "Dar Khaldeh", located in Khalde, Choueifat, Lebanon. The palace has been the residence of the chief of the Arslan family since the beginning of the 20th century. It is the official residence of other members of the family such as Princess Khawla Majid and Princess Zeina Majid. Before that, the official residence of the head of the dynasty was in the "Serail of the Arslan family" in Choueifat (Template:Lang-ar) that was built in the 17th century and is still used today by family members for private retreats.

Political career

Arslan was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a deputy of the Aley District in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2009. From 1990 to 1992 he was the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, from 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Emigrants and served as Minister of State twice from 2000 to 2003 and from 2003 to 2004. Emir Talal founded the Lebanese Democratic Party in 2001. He is also affectionately called "al-damaneh" (Template:Lang-ar) meaning "The Guarantee", by his followers.^[1]^{[dead link‍]}

Cabinet positions

Minister of Tourism: 24 December 1990 - 16 May 1992.
Minister of Emigrants: 7 November 1996 - 4 December 1998.
Minister of State: 26 October 2000 - 26 October 2004.
Minister of The Displaced: 26 October 2004 - 19 April 2005.
Minister of Sports and Youth: 11 July 2008 - 9 November 2009.
Minister of State: 13 June 2011 - 14 June 2011.

2011 Cabinet resignation

Arslan resigned after not providing the Druze in general, and his party (Lebanese Democratic Party) in particular, a "key ministerial portfolio". He stated "I cannot participate in a Cabinet in which Mikati says that the Druze do not have a right to be assigned a key ministerial portfolio...Mikati is conspiring against coexistence in the country." He further accused Mikati of trying to ignite a conflict within March 8 by lying to the public and attempting to embarrass Hezbollah by stalling the formation of a new government. Security officials said that his supporters in his stronghold of Khalde blocked the highway leading to the village and fired gunshot rounds in the air to protest Mikati cabinet. Moreover they blocked the international highway leading to Damascus in Mount Lebanon as well as main roads in the Chouf District and in South Lebanon; in Hasbaya.

Post resignation

The resignation of Arslan had a negative effect on the March 8 Alliance that was criticised for letting down Arslan whose party was a major ally in it. Therefore many key people in the alliance - such as the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri—contacted Arslan trying to find a suitable solution for the representation of the LDP in general and Arslan in particular in the newly formed government. After weeks of discussions the resolution allowed Arslan to name a minister to take his place as Minister of State so that the government will be complete (with 30 ministers) and the political hole would be recovered. Thus, Marwan Kheireddine became the representative of the Lebanese Democratic Party in the Government of Lebanon .

References

^ ^a ^b Arslan Talal, Minister of The Displaced, Baabda-Aley MP Lebanonwire. Archived October 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine