Wael Nader al-Halqi

His Excellency
Wael Nader al-Halqi
MD
وائل نادر الحلقي‎
Halqi in 2014
66th Prime Minister of Syria
In office
9 August 2012 – 3 July 2016
PresidentBashar al-Assad
DeputyFahd Jassem al-Freij
Walid Muallem
Preceded byOmar Ibrahim Ghalawanji (Acting)
Succeeded byImad Khamis
Minister of Health
In office
14 April 2011 – 26 August 2012
Prime MinisterAdel Safar
Riyad Farid Hijab
Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji (Acting)
Preceded byRida Adnan Said
Succeeded bySaad Abdel-Salam al-Nayef
Member of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch of the Baath Party
In office
8 July 2013 – 3 July 2016
Personal details
Born (1964-02-04) 4 February 1964 (age 60)
Jasim, Daraa Governorate, Syria
Political partyBa'ath Party
Other political
affiliations		National Progressive Front
Alma materDamascus University
ProfessionPolitician, Medical Doctor
Cabinetal-Halqi I
al-Halqi II

Wael Nader Al-Halqi (Arabic: وائل نادر الحلقي, romanized: Wāʾil Nādir al-Ḥalqī; born 4 February 1964) is a Syrian politician who was Prime Minister of Syria from 2012 to 2016.[1] Previously he was Minister of Health from 2011 to 2012. He was appointed as Prime Minister on 9 August 2012.

Early life and education

Halqi was born in Jasim in the Daraa Governorate on 4 February 1964 into a Sunni Muslim family.[2][3] He earned a degree in medicine (MD) from the University of Damascus in 1987 and a master's degree in gynaecology and obstetrics again from the University of Damascus in 1991.[4]

Career

Halqi served as director of primary health care in Jasim from 1997 to 2000 and was secretary of the Daraa branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party from 2000 to 2004.[4] He served as the director of health in Daraa, and in 2010, was appointed head of Syria's doctors.[4] He was appointed as Prime Minister of Syria on 9 August 2012 by President Bashar Assad, after his predecessor Riyad Farid Hijab fled to Jordan and declared his allegiance to the Syrian opposition.[5] Dr. Wael al-Halqi took many efforts in fighting terrorism during his premiership. He is titled as The Chief of Fighting Terrorism Government in Syria.

Attempted assassination

In April 2013, Halqi survived an apparent assassination attempt by car bombing in the Mezzeh district of Damascus.[6][7] The assassination attempt killed six people.[8]

Personal life

Dr al-Halqi is married and has four children,[4] one daughter and three sons.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Syrian prime minister to visit Iran". Tehran Times. 9 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Assad appoints health minister Wael al-Halki as new PM". Mpelembe. Damascus. Reuters. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Syria's Assad appoints new prime minister". Al Jazeera. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Tamayo, Carolina (9 August 2012). "Syria's Assad appoints new PM after defection". NTN 24. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Syria's Assad appoints new prime minister". Al Jazeera. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Syria crisis: PM Halaqi 'survives Damascus car bombing'". BBC News. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  7. ^ Matthew Weaver (29 April 2013). "Syria crisis: PM 'survives' Damascus bomb attack - live updates". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  8. ^ Six die but Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki survives bomb attack on convoy in Damascus The Independent

9. "Wael al Halqi asked to form a government" SANA

Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Syria
2012–2016 		Succeeded by