The Cabinet of Émile Eddé was the government of Lebanon headed by Prime Minister Émile Eddé. It was formed on 12 October 1929 and served until 20 March 1930, during the presidency of Charles Debbas and the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon.
Background
Émile Eddé (1883–1949) was a Lebanese Maronite Christian lawyer and politician who later served as President of Lebanon (1936–1941). He was the founder of the Lebanese National Bloc party. Prior to becoming prime minister, he had served as a member of the Representative Council of Greater Lebanon, as its president (1925–1926), as a senator (1926–1927), and as a deputy (1927–1936). His cabinet was the sixth government formed under the French Mandate.
Composition
The cabinet consisted of six ministers, all affiliated with the Pro-France political alignment. Émile Eddé served as Prime Minister and also held the portfolios of Interior and Health. The full composition was as follows:
| Portfolio | Minister | Political Affiliation | Religious Affiliation | Governorate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister, Interior, Health | Émile Eddé | Pro-France | Maronite | Mount Lebanon |
| Justice, Public Knowledge (Education) | Najib Abou Swan | Pro-France | Greek Catholic | Beirut |
| Finance | Moussa Namour | Pro-France | Maronite | Beqaa |
| Economy | Gebrayel Mansa | Pro-France | Greek Catholic | Beirut |
| Public Works | Hussein al-Ahdab | Pro-France | Sunni | North |
| Agriculture | Ahmad Al-Husseini | Pro-France | Shia | South |
The cabinet reflected the sectarian distribution that characterized Lebanese governance under the Mandate, with Maronite, Greek Catholic, Sunni, and Shia ministers represented.
Tenure and Resignation
As prime minister, Eddé undertook a broad program of reforms in administrative, educational, legal, economic, and financial domains. According to biographical sources, these reforms affected the interests of certain conservative figures and political opponents, generating strong opposition that led to his resignation on 25 March 1930. Many of his reform projects reportedly remained in application for years afterward. He was succeeded as prime minister by Auguste Adib Pacha.
