Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa is a Bahraini royal and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain since 1970, taking office over a year before Bahrain's independence on 15 August 1971. He is the longest-serving current Prime Minister of any government in the world. He still retains a great amount of power, although under the 2002 Constitution he lost some of his powers, with the King having the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers. He is the paternal uncle of the reigning King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and granduncle of the Crown Prince Salman, since he is the younger brother of the former Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
Prince Khalifa was a member of the education council from 1956 to 1958 and chair between 1958 and 1961. Next he became the director of the finance department, president of the electricity board, chair of the Manama municipal council, head of the Bahrain monetary council, chair of the joint committee for economic and financial studies, committee member for the register of commerce, then chairman of the administrative affairs council, became board member of the Bahrain monetary agency and then chairperson of the State Council, head of the State Council and head of the supreme defence council. Prince Khalifa was appointed as prime minister by his brother Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, in 1971. Therefore, he was assigned the control of government and economy, while his brother, the Emir, involved in diplomatic and ceremonial affairs.Prince Khalifa received World Peace Culture Award on 06 August 2017.
Views
In 2011, reporter Bill Law stated that Prince Khalifa is a hardliner, whereas Crown Prince Salman, his grandnephew who is also his Deputy Prime Minister, the grandson of his brother, the late Emir Isa, is the reformer and the King, his nephew and Crown Prince Salman's father, is somewhere in the middle of them.
Marriage and children
Prince Khalifa married his cousin Hessa bint Ali Al Khalifa, the fourth daughter of Ali bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Muharraq. They had three sons and one daughter:
Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa – Deputy Prime Minister. He married Zayn bint Khalid Al Khalifa with whom he has three sons and one daughter:
Lulwa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa – honorary president of the Al Noor beneficence society. She married Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, artist and patron of the arts. They have three sons and three daughters.
Other relatives
Shaikha Dheya bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa - niece of Prince Khalifa and President of Riyada Group of Companies. Famous for her business activities as a member of the Royal family and Head of Riyada Group in Russia. She has political and business contacts with Russian Ministries, business community, engineering companies. In 2014 during Rhodian Forum gave an opinion on the beginning of the Third World War and the necessity of the dialogue.
Titles, styles and honours
Titles and styles
24 November 1935 – 20 February 1942: Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
20 February 1942 – 21 October 2009: His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
21 October 2009 – present: His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prince Khalifa was raised to the personal title of Prince with the style of "His Royal Highness" on 21 October 2009.
Honours
National
Member 1st Class of the Order of Khalifa
Collar of the Order of Khalifa
Member Exceptional Class of the Order of Shaikh 'Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa
