Elias Skaff (1948-2015); also known as Elie Skaff, was a Lebanese politician and leader of the "Popular Bloc"
Elias Skaff was born in Zahlé on 11 October 1948. He is the son of the leader and ex-minister Joseph Tohme Skaff. His mother is Helena Nilacos who is of the Greek nationality. He is married to Myriam Gebran Tawk and has two children: Joseph and Gebran
 
Elias Skaff received elementary education in Zahle and then in New Zealand. In 1965, he attended the Evangelical School in Zahle and then the International School of Choueifat (Charles Saad). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1975.
Skaff was elected to the parliament in 1992 as head of the Popular Bloc list as well as in 1996, 2000 and 2005. He was appointed minister of industry in 2003 in the government of Rafik Hariri. Then he served as the minister of agriculture in 2004 and 2005 in the Omar Karami government. He also participated in the sessions of National Dialogue in his capacity as head of the parliamentary Popular Bloc in 2006. In July 2008, Skaff was appointed agriculture minister to the cabinet of then prime minister Fouad Siniora. Skaff lost his seat in 2009 elections. Elias Skaff reestablished the political newspaper Al Asr in 2000.

Source: Wikipedia.org