Lebanon Elects Army Chief Joseph Aoun as President

Lebanese lawmakers have elected army chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, bringing an end to a two-year political vacuum. This significant development is seen as a crucial step in addressing Lebanon’s ongoing financial crisis.

On Thursday, Aoun, who is turning 61 on Friday, entered the parliament to take the oath of office, receiving widespread applause. For the occasion, he chose to wear a dark suit and blue tie, in contrast to his usual military uniform.

Aoun declared, “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in Lebanon’s history.”

As president, Aoun faces immense challenges, including overseeing a ceasefire in southern Lebanon and appointing a prime minister capable of executing the necessary reforms required by international creditors in exchange for a vital financial bailout.

He emphasized his commitment to promptly initiating parliamentary consultations to appoint a new prime minister and vowed to restore the state’s exclusive control over weapons following the devastating war this autumn between Israel and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group.

Aoun stated, “I will call for a discussion on a comprehensive defense strategy that covers diplomatic, economic, and military aspects, aimed at enabling Lebanon to remove the Israeli occupation and counter its aggression.”

In his hometown of Aishiyeh in southern Lebanon, Aoun’s supporters celebrated the election with enthusiasm. Residents gathered outside a church decorated with his portrait and Lebanese flags. One elderly resident, Salim Nasr, expressed hope for peace, saying, “We want calm in the country. We hope he can achieve even half of what he has promised.”

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed Aoun’s election after 99 out of 128 lawmakers supported his candidacy. Aoun becomes Lebanon’s fifth army commander to assume the presidency and the fourth consecutive one under Lebanon’s power-sharing system, which designates the president as a Maronite Christian and military leaders to this post.

While the powers of the president have been reduced since the end of Lebanon’s civil war, the position remains vital for overseeing consultations on appointing a new prime minister. Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022, following the end of Michel Aoun’s term, and a lack of consensus between pro- and anti-Hezbollah factions in parliament had previously blocked several attempts to elect a new president.

Despite early opposition from pro-Hezbollah bloc members who spoiled their ballots in the first voting round, Aoun was ultimately elected in the second round after meeting with their representatives.

Internationally, Aoun’s election was hailed as a positive development. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called it “a success for all of Lebanon,” while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed hopes that it would contribute to stability. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas also expressed confidence that Lebanon would overcome the repercussions of Israeli aggression under its new leadership.

Aoun’s candidacy had significant backing from the United States and Saudi Arabia, with the US embassy in Beirut expressing its commitment to work closely with the new president. EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron, saw the election as a hopeful step toward Lebanon’s sovereignty and prosperity, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of forming a new government swiftly.

With mounting international pressure and only 17 days left for the completion of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, foreign envoys from the US, Saudi Arabia, and France visited Beirut, underscoring the urgency of electing a new president.