Sethrida Tawk Geagea (; born 31 May 1967), is a Lebanese politician and MP since June 2005 from the Bcharri district. She is also a member of the executive committee of the Lebanese Forces, headed by her husband, Samir Geagea. She contributed greatly to the management of the Lebanese Forces Party during Samir Geagea's Arrest between 1994 and 2005.
Early life
Sethrida Geagea is from a prominent Maronite Lebanese Tawk family that owned businesses in West Africa (Ghana). Her political activism began while at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and it led to meeting the leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, whom she married in 1991. She earned a BS in political science in 1994.
Political career
In 1994, the Syrian occupation of Lebanon led to the banning of the Lebanese Forces party and the imprisonment of its leader Samir Geagea. Following the political ban, MP Sethrida Geagea took charge as Chairwoman of the party and sustained the link between the party's supporters and their imprisoned leader.
In 1998, after four years of forced political inactivity, the Lebanese Forces party, supervised by MP Sethrida Geagea, scored an impressive victory in the municipal and "mukhtar" elections. Lebanese Forces candidates built subtle alliances and benefited from the efficiency and strong discipline of its members. They won nearly 300 municipal seats in the five "Muhafazas", dominating more than 30 municipal councils. The same year witnessed the first encounter between MP Sethrida Geagea and Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
In 2001, MP Sethrida Geagea joined the Qornet Shehwan Gathering, a political organization founded on 30 April 2001 by a total of 29 individuals, representing political parties and civic organizations, as well as independents, with the blessing of the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. In August 2001, the reconciliation of the Jabal took place through an initiative by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, in which the Christians and Druze sects put behind them the political differences and the thousands of deaths in the Chouf and Mount Lebanon. As commemoration of the historic reconciliation, MP Sethrida Geagea led the preparations and the ceremonies of welcoming the Patriarch in multiple Christian villages and towns, a celebration that lasted for two days.
In November 2003, following the reconciliation of the Jabal, MP Sethrida Geagea visited Al Barouk Area to offer condolences after the passing away of the Druze Sheikh Abou Hassan Aref Halawi.
In December 2004, MP Sethrida Geagea pushed forward a parliamentary pardon bill for Lebanese Forces leader Dr. Samir Geagea, with the support of the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. The patriarch, who has continuously called for Samir Geagea's release, stated that he hoped the petition would lead to a complete conciliation in Lebanon, so that the Lebanese can start rebuilding their country. The end of 2004 witnessed prime minister Rafic Hariri and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt signing the pardon bill, a political turning point that concluded in Jumblatt's visit to MP Sethrida Geagea's residence in Yasou El Malak. In the same year, MP Sethrida Geagea joined the Bristol Gathering, the largest multi-sectarian opposition bloc in the history of Lebanon, which gave birth later on to the March 14 Movement, which led to the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri on the 14th of February 2005.
Cedars International Festival
In June 2015, MP Sethrida Geagea relaunched the Cedars International Festival (CIF) after almost half a century of inactivity. The festival, held since 1964, was interrupted in the early seventies due to the circumstances that were controlling Lebanon at that time. The first year's edition, themed “Language of the Spirit”, featured renowned local artists including Wael Kfoury, Elissa, Najwa Karam, Joseph Attieh, Michel Fadel, Abir Nehme & the Notre Dame University Choir led by Father Khalil Rahme, the Mafi Metlo comedy show and rap group Mn el-Ekher.
In 2016, the second year's festival paid tribute to Bsharri's legendary philosopher Gibran Khalil Gibran. In her opening speech, MP Sethrida Geagea renewed determination to entrench the Lebanese further in their land and their nation. The event opened with an orchestral performance by Lebanese iconic singer Majida El Roumi, followed by a concert featuring Lebanese superstars Nancy Ajram and Assi El Hallani and closed with a two-night dancing performance by the internationally acclaimed Caracalla Dance Theatre.