Rida al-Hammad
Rida al-Hammad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 20th President of Emmiria | |
| In office 13 February 1947 – 13 February 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Haaroon el-Salih |
| Succeeded by | Iyaad Safar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rida al-Hammad 13 November 1899 Shakhayya, Emmiria |
| Died | 13 November 1969 (aged 70) San Beausoleil, Rio Palito |
| Cause of death | Cardiac arrest |
Rida al-Hammad was an Emmirian politician and statesman who served as the 20th President of Emmiria, a position he held from 1947 to 1963. Al-Hammad defeated incumbant president Haaroon el-Salih to win the presidency. With an administration lasting 16 years, Al-Hammad was the second-longest serving president in Emmirian history after Irfaan el-Masood (20 years). Al-Hammad's leadership during the World War is credited with elevating Emmiria's status on the world stage and integrating it with important international alliances that it still holds today, particularly as an eventual founding member of the Coalition of Crown Albatross and WEDA.
Born in 1899 in Shakhayya, his father was a prominent general in the Emmirian Armed Forces. After a brief military service in the Emmirian Army, al-Hammad joined the Political Service and spent the majority of his career as a political agent in the northern province of Hayya. Having been elected shortly before the World War and having said conflict be a dominating factor in his administration, he was hailed as a national hero. His presidency, however, was later marked with political instability which saw his unconstitutional interferences in the civilian administration that led to the dismissal of six prime ministers in a mere four years. Facing challenges in getting the political endorsements and reelection for the presidency, al-Hammad surprisingly suspended the writ of the Constitution by having imposed martial law against his own party's administration governed by Prime Minister Ayub Ayaan on 8 October 1961, enforcing it through his army commanders. Facing increased unpopularity and being considered a dictator by many, al-Hammad lost his 1963 election to Iyaad Safar. Al-Hammad lived in Rio Palito with a vast fortune for the remainder of his life and was buried in Emmiria in 1969 upon his death.