Wael Nader al-Halqi

Wael Nader Al-Halqi
وائل نادر الحلقي
66th Prime Minister of Syria
In office 9 August 2012 – 3 July 2016
President	Bashar al-Assad
Deputy	Fahd Jassem al-Freij Walid Muallem
Preceded by	Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji (Acting)
Succeeded by	Imad Khamis
Minister of Health
In office 14 April 2011 – 26 August 2012
Prime Minister	Adel Safar Riyad Farid Hijab Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji (Acting)
Preceded by	Rida Adnan Said
Succeeded by	Saad Abdel-Salam al-Nayef
Personal details
Born	1964 (age 51–52) Jasim, Syria
Political party	Syrian Ba'ath Party
Other political affiliations	National Progressive Front
Alma mater	Damascus University
Religion	Sunni Islam

Wael Nader Al-Halqi (Arabic: وائل نادر الحلقي‎‎, born 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 in 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]

Assassination attempt

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

Halqi is married and has four children.^[4]

See also

• Cabinet of Syria

References

1. "Syrian prime minister to visit Iran". Tehran Times. 9 January 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. Tamayo, Carolina (9 August 2012). "Syria's Assad appoints new PM after defection". NTN 24. 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