and Muslim parliamentarians opposed to the pro-Syrian government. She has also been affiliated with the National Front, a multi-sectarian parliamentary block working for political reforms. In the general election held in May–June 2005, she retained her seat. In 2004, Moawad announced her candidacy for the presidency in elections scheduled to be held that year. These were postponed, however, until 2007. Moawad's son, Michel, founded a new political party in 2006 called Independence Movement. The movement is part of the anti-Syrian Qornet Shehwan Gathering and the March 14 Alliance. During the period between 2005 and 2009 it had 3 Maronite Christian MPs for the Zgharta District in the Lebanese Parliament, namely Nayla Moawad, Jawad Simon Boulos and Samir Frangieh. Since 2009, the party has been led by Michel René Moawad, Jawad Simon Boulos and Youssef Bahaa El Douaihy. In the 2009 Lebanese elections, Moawad decided not to run for a seat in her district. She instead encouraged and supported the election of her son Michel. He and the Independence Movement's other two candidates in the district lost to their opponent Suleiman Frangieh and his coalition. Nayla Moawad still remains a strong anti-Syrian lobbyist and is still a member of the 14 March Movement. References External links Ehden Family Tree 1940 births 21st-century Lebanese women politicians 21st-century Lebanese politicians Alumni of the University of Cambridge First ladies of Lebanon Government ministers of Lebanon Lebanese journalists Lebanese Maronites Lebanese socialites Living people Members of the Parliament of Lebanon People from Bsharri Saint Joseph University alumni Women government ministers of Lebanon Lebanese women in politics