{{Short description|Lebanese politician}} [[File:Ibrahim Kanaan, MTV Lebanon - Feb 7, 2020.jpg|thumb|Ibrahim Kanaan guest of [[MTV Lebanon]], 7 February 2020.]] '''Ibrahim Youssef Kanaan''' ({{langx|ar|إبراهيم كنعان}}, born in 1962<ref name=":02"/>) is a [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Maronites|Maronite]]<ref name=":02"/> lawyer, politician and former [[member of parliament]] of the [[Strong Lebanon]] bloc and the [[Free Patriotic Movement]].<ref name="worldsecuritynetwork.com">{{Cite web|title=Interview with Ibrahim Kanaan, Lebanese Member of Parliament of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)|url=http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/Broader-Middle-East/manuela-paraipan/Interview-with-Ibrahim-Kanaan-Lebanese-Member-of-Parliament-of-the-Free-Patriotic-Movement-FPM|access-date=2021-02-17|website=worldsecuritynetwork|language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life == Born on November 11, 1962, into a Maronite family, he has three brothers and two sisters. He is married to Tania Saadé, and has two daughters, Maria and Rita.

== Education == He went to [[Collège des Frères Maristes Champville|Champville]] and [[Collège Mont La Salle|Mont-La Salle]] schools, then studied law in the [[Saint Joseph University|USJ]] university, followed by a master's degree in [[International private law|International Private Law]] from [[University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas|Paris 2]] in 1987, and another Master's in [[French law|French Law]], and is member of the Bar since 1989.<ref name=":02"/>

== Career and politics == {{Michel Aoun}} His political activism started since the beginning of Michel Aoun's political journey, even before the creation of the ''[[Free Patriotic Movement|Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)]]'', when he used to meet Aoun at the [[Baabda Palace]], as a young lawyer, and started lobbying for the ideas of freedom from the [[Syrian occupation of Lebanon|Syrian occupation in Lebanon]] and also with outside organizations from France, Geneva and UK.<ref name="worldsecuritynetwork.com"/><ref name=":02"/> He left the country a few weeks before the [[War of Liberation (1989–1990)|13 of Oct 1990]] Syrian invasion of the [[Baabda Palace]] took place, as those who spoke against the [[Syria]]ns were prosecuted, so stayed in London where he got an offer from a law firm and then he started to lobby for Lebanon from within the Lebanese community in London.<ref name="worldsecuritynetwork.com"/> He started working at ''Elliott and Company'' as a [[Middle East]] consultant, then joined ''Kennedys Solicitors'' where he worked as an international partner.<ref name=":02"/> He then formed an organization called the British Lebanese Civil Liberties Association in which there were a number of British MPs as well as Lebanese expatriates.<ref name="worldsecuritynetwork.com"/> Then he formed the Liberation Front of Lebanon, and in 1996 in Paris the [[Free Patriotic Movement]] started. He was elected as secretary general of the British Middle East Law Council at the Law Society of England and Wales.

In 1992, he founded the law firm Kanaan Law Firm, based in Beirut, which is specialized in commercial and corporate affairs,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|date=2018-10-18|title=Open discussion with Metn deputy Ibrahim Kanaan|url=http://www.prestigemag.co/2018/10/open-discussion-with-metn-deputy-ibrahim-kanaan/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Prestige Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> and in 2004, he participated in the establishment of the Kennedys and Co Office in Riyadh.<ref name=":02" />

In 2005, before the return of Michel Aoun from exile, he was announced candidate by General Aoun in Paris, and got elected on June 12, 2005, by 57,000 votes in the [[Matn District|Metn district]].<ref name="worldsecuritynetwork.com"/>

He became the secretary general of the FPM's [[Change and Reform bloc|Change and Reform Bloc]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 23, 2019|title=Kanaan Promises to Reveal Good News on Thursday|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/267491|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Naharnet}}</ref> head of the ''Youth and Sports'' parliamentary committee,<ref>{{Cite web|title=IBRAHIM KANAAN|url=https://www.abdogedeon.com/volleyball/NOUJOUM/ibrahim_kanaan.html|access-date=2021-02-17|website=www.abdogedeon.com}}</ref> and a member of the highest parliamentary court and an active member of the Justice and Administration Committee as well as a member of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee.

On June 7, 2009, he was re-elected MP for the constituency the third consecutive time in [[Matn District|Metn]], on the list of the [[Change and Reform bloc|Change and Reform Bloc]], obtaining the greatest number of votes and became head of the parliamentary ''Budget and Financial Affairs Commission''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-06|title=Lebanon rescue plan, any IMF deal will need laws - MP|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lebanon-crisis-laws-idINL8N2CO7RY|access-date=2021-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 12, 2019|title=Kanaan Meets Billingslea: No New Sanctions on Lebanese Officials|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/259027|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Naharnet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 1, 2020|title=Kanaan: State Not Bankrupt, Govt. Figures on Defaulted Loans Inaccurate|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/272993|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Naharnet}}</ref>

In August 2024, Kanaan resigned from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), citing internal disagreements and a lack of response to his calls for unity within the party. Despite his departure, he remains committed to his constituents and continues to advocate for reform and national unity.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |date=2024 |title=MP Ibrahim Kanaan resigns from Free Patriotic Movement |url=https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/307602-mp-ibrahim-kanaan-resigns-from-free-patriotic-movement?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Naharnet}}</ref>

In April 2025, Kanaan met with President Joseph Aoun to discuss his recent trip to Washington, where he engaged with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. He emphasized the need for Lebanon to adopt a clear, reformative vision to address its economic challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Ibrahim Kanaan reports to Joseph Aoun on his visit to Washington |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1458025/ibrahim-kanaan-reports-to-joseph-aoun-on-his-visit-to-washington.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=L'Orient Today |language=en}}</ref>

On May 5, 2025 "It's Time" list, headed by Auguste Bacchus, and supported by him and the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange, won in Jdeideh El-Bouchrieh (North Metn) the [[2025 Lebanese municipal elections|Municipal Elections]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025 |title=2025 Municipal Elections... Preliminary Results of the Winners |url=https://www.annahar.com/Lebanon/Politics/213429/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-2025-%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AC-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Free Patriotic Movement]] *[[Michel Aoun]] * [[Gebran Bassil]] *[[Alain Aoun]] *[[Mario Aoun]] *[[Elias Bou Saab]] *[[Issam Abu Jamra]] *[[Charbel Nahas]]

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanaan, Ibrahim}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Free Patriotic Movement politicians]] [[Category:Lebanese Maronites]] [[Category:Saint Joseph University of Beirut alumni]] [[Category:Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas University alumni]]