Elias Joseph Tohme Skaff

Date and Place of Birth: 11/10/1948 – Zahle
* Son of deputy and ex-minister Joseph Tohme Skaff and Helena Nilacos, of the Greek nationality.
* Married to Myriam Gebran Tawk and father of 2 children: Joseph (8 years old) and Gebran (6 years old).
* He pursued his elementary studies in Zahle and then in New Zealand. In 1965, he continued his studies at the Evangelical School in Zahle and then his complementary and secondary studies in the International School of Choueifat (Charles Saad).
* He graduated in Agronomy from the American University of Beirut in 1975.
* His only profession is to manage his agricultural properties.
* He was elected deputy of the District of Zahle at the round of 1992, in his capacity as the head of the Popular Bloc list, as in 1996, 2000 and 2005, during which he achieved great victory.  
* He was elected President of the Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture, Tourism, Environment and Municipal and Rural Affairs.
* He was appointed Minister of Industry in the government of President Rafic Hariri in 2003.
* He was appointed Minister of Agriculture in the government of President Omar Karami in 2004.
* He was elected President of the Melkite Greek Catholic Higher Council in 1999 and was re-elected in 2002.
* He participated in the sessions of the National Dialogue in his capacity as Head of the Parliamentary Popular Bloc in 2006.
* He established along with his family Al Skaff Association in Lebanon and Overseas in 2000.
* He established along with his wife Myriam in 2001 the Joseph Tohme Skaff Social Charity for the purpose of establishing a complete social health center for the region of Zahle and the Bekaa.
* He re-launched in 2000 the weekly political newspaper “Al-Asr” that follows up the activities of the Popular Bloc and the events taking place in Zahle and the Bekaa.