Selim Ahmed Hoss (; also transliterated Salim Al-Hoss; born 20 December 1929) is a veteran Lebanese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon and a longtime Member of Parliament representing his hometown, Beirut. He is known as a technocrat. Early life and personal life Hoss was born into a Sunni Muslim family in Beirut in 1929. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from the American University of Beirut and a PhD in business and economics from Indiana University in the United States. Hoss was married to Leila Pharaoun, a Maronite Christian who converted to Islam at the end of her life in order to be buried next to her husband in a Muslim cemetery, according to a 2000 interview with Hoss. Political career El-Hoss served as prime minister of Lebanon four times. The first was from 1976 until 1980 during the first years of the Lebanese Civil War. His second, and most controversial term, was from 1987 until 1989, when in 1988 he unconstitutionally nominated himself as prime minister but was recognized by many nations and statesmen of the international community. El-Hoss was chosen a third time to serve as prime minister by President Elias Hrawi from November 1989 until December 1990. He served as prime minister again from December 1998 to October 2000. After losing his parliamentary seat to a previously unknown candidate running with former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in the general elections of 2000, a frail Hoss resigned as prime minister, declaring an end to his political career. In March 2005, he was considered as a candidate to form a new government following the resignation of Omar Karami (Prime Minister again), but he reportedly refused to accept the position for health reasons; Najib Mikati was subsequently appointed. During his last two terms as prime minister, he was also foreign minister. He is a member of the anti-imperialist conference Axis for Peace. Hoss is a strong opponent of capital punishment, and during his term as Prime Minister he refused to sign any execution warrants, temporarily halting executions in Lebanon, which remain rare. Hoss's second term From January to September 1988, he boycotted meetings of his own cabinet, in protest against the policies of President Amine Gemayel. On 22 September, he refused to accept his dismissal in favour of General Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian. The crisis was precipitated by the failure of the National Assembly