Lebanon's oldest member of Parliament, Michel Murr, died Sunday from complications of COVID-19. He was 88 years old.
Murr had been in hospital since December after getting infected with coronavirus.
Murr, a MP for the Metn district for more than two decades, served in several governments, taking several posts including interior minister and deputy prime minister. He was last elected to Parliament in 2018.
The eldest MP, Michel Murr, running the session of electing the speaker of the parliament, in Beirut, Lebanon. (Lebanese parliament / Flickr) https://t.co/wqqK304xiH pic.twitter.com/TtFsqt93QV
— POW photos (@pow_photos) May 27, 2018
A wealthy businessman, he played a key role on the political scene from the early '80s and was a central figure after the country's Civil War ended in 1990.
Family of late MP Michel Murr issues statement https://t.co/zOTNhAQn9j
— MTV English News (@MTVEnglishNews) January 31, 2021
Murr's death brings the number of MPs down to 119 in the 128-member chamber. Eight lawmakers resigned last year to protest the government's inability to tackle a deep economic, financial and social crisis.
The authorities did not hold by-elections to replace them as stipulated by the constitution, citing the pandemic as an excuse.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
