Lebanon elects army chief as president, ending years of political deadlock

Photo: Reuters

Lebanon's parliament has elected the country's army chief, Joseph Aoun, as president, bringing an end to a political deadlock that had lasted for more than two years. This election fills the power vacuum left after the term of the previous president ended in October 2022.

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Aoun's candidacy was supported by many key political groups, including the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia. The position of president in Lebanon is a ceremonial one, reserved for a Maronite Christian under the country's power-sharing system. Aoun, who has led the Lebanese army since 2017, was the preferred candidate for this role.

There had been a rival candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, who was supported by Hezbollah, the powerful Shia Muslim group backed by Iran. However, Frangieh withdrew from the race on Wednesday and threw his support behind Aoun, stating that Aoun had the necessary qualifications to protect the presidency.

Aoun’s election came after a ceasefire was agreed upon between Lebanon and Israel to end a war involving Hezbollah. This ceasefire significantly weakened Hezbollah and caused major damage in areas under its control. The Lebanese army, which Aoun had led, played a key role in maintaining peace under the ceasefire agreement. The army will also be tasked with ensuring that Hezbollah disarms in southern Lebanon by January 26.

As president, Aoun will not be responsible for making executive decisions but will play an important role in Lebanon's political system. His duties will include signing bills into law, consulting with political groups to appoint a prime minister, and approving the formation of a new cabinet. Lebanon has not had a fully functioning government since the last parliamentary elections in May 2022.

The process of electing a new president had been delayed multiple times due to divisions in parliament. Aoun’s candidacy gained momentum when Frangieh withdrew and endorsed him. In the first round of voting on Thursday, Aoun received 71 votes, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. However, after Hezbollah and its ally Amal agreed to back Aoun, he was elected president in the second round with 99 votes.

The election of Aoun was welcomed with celebrations across Lebanon. As soon as the result was announced, the streets were filled with cheers, and TV channels broadcasted the joyful scenes. Aoun arrived at parliament, dressed in a dark suit instead of his army uniform, to be sworn in as president.

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called the election a significant step towards overcoming Lebanon’s political crisis. She emphasized the need to quickly form a new government, stating that Lebanon’s challenges were too important to delay further action.

French President Emmanuel Macron also congratulated Aoun, describing the election as an essential step toward reforms and Lebanon's recovery. The US embassy in Beirut expressed its commitment to working closely with Aoun, supporting efforts to unite the country and create a prosperous future. Iran’s embassy also congratulated Aoun, stating that they looked forward to cooperating with Lebanon for mutual benefit.

Now that the presidential election has been settled, the focus turns to the formation of a new government to address the urgent challenges facing Lebanon.

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