Army chief elected president of Lebanon

Lebanon’s parliament has elected the country’s army chief as president, ending a power vacuum that has lasted more than two years.

Joseph Aoun’s candidacy was supported by several political parties, in addition to the United States, France and Saudi Arabia.

A rival backed by the Hezbollah militia withdrew on Wednesday and backed the commander.

The presidency is a largely ceremonial role reserved for a Christian under a sectarian power-sharing system.

The election took place six weeks after Lebanon’s government agreed to a ceasefire to end a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, which significantly weakened the Iran-backed Shiite Muslim group.

The Lebanese army was not involved in the conflict and has a key role under the ceasefire agreement, which requires it to deploy soldiers in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw and ensure that Hezbollah ends its armed presence there. before January 26.

Aoun, 60, is a career soldier who has been an army commander since 2017.

During that time, he led the institution through deep crises that affected Lebanon.

They include the 13-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, a six-year economic depression that is one of the worst on record in modern times and the 2020 Beirut port explosion that killed more than 200 people.

Lebanon has not had a properly functioning government since the last parliamentary elections in May 2022.

Interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati failed to win the divided parliament’s backing for a new cabinet before then-President Michel Aoun’s term ended in October, leaving his administration with reduced powers.

Lawmakers then failed to elect a new president 12 times. The last time was in June 2023, when no candidate received enough votes to win the first round before Hezbollah and its ally Amal prevented a second round by withdrawing.

A presidential candidate in Lebanon can normally be elected in the first round if he receives a two-thirds majority – or 86 votes – in the 128-seat parliament, or by a simple majority in a second round. However, President Nabih Berri said Aoun needed a two-thirds majority in any round because he was a sitting army commander.

In the first round on Thursday morning, 71 lawmakers voted in favor of Aoun, 15 fewer than he asked for. Another 37 lawmakers – many of them reportedly from Hezbollah and Amal – cast blank votes, while 20 votes were declared invalid.

Amal leader Berri adjourned the session until the afternoon, sparking anger among lawmakers who wanted the runoff to be held immediately.

Ultimately, Aoun was elected president after receiving 99 votes in the second round, easily achieving the required two-thirds majority. Nine legislators cast blank votes, in addition to 18 null votes.

As soon as the speaker announced the result, television channels showed scenes of celebration across the country.

Aoun was later shown arriving at the parliament building in a suit and then inspecting guards before entering the chamber to take the oath.