Lebanon’s parliament has elected General Joseph Aoun, the country’s army chief, as president, ending a two-year leadership vacuum.
The election, held on Thursday, January 9, is a significant step toward addressing Lebanon’s deep financial crisis and political instability.
Dressed in a dark suit and bright blue tie rather than his military uniform, Aoun, who turns 61 on Friday, took his oath of office to general applause from lawmakers. “A new phase in the history of Lebanon begins today,” he declared to the chamber after receiving 99 out of 128 votes from lawmakers.
Supporters celebrated the victory in Aoun’s hometown of Aishiyeh, south Lebanon. Residents gathered in front of the local church, adorned with Lebanese flags and his portrait, in a jubilant display of support.
Challenges Ahead for the New President
As Lebanon’s fifth army commander to ascend to the presidency and the fourth in a row, Aoun faces significant challenges. He must oversee the delicate ceasefire on the Israeli border and appoint a prime minister capable of implementing reforms demanded by international creditors to address Lebanon’s severe economic crisis.
Under Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian, a requirement that Aoun fulfills, along with his military credentials. However, his path to victory was not without hurdles, as tensions between Hezbollah and its opponents had previously blocked a dozen attempts to elect a president.
International and Domestic Reactions
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri declared Aoun’s victory after a second round of voting, during which pro-Hezbollah lawmakers, who abstained in the first round, ultimately lent their support. Their earlier abstention had left Aoun short of the two-thirds majority required for an outright win in the initial round.
The election drew international attention, with Pope Francis expressing hope that Lebanon would now “possess the necessary institutional stability to address the grave economic and social situation.” However, some lawmakers criticized what they viewed as foreign interference in the process. Protest votes were cast for symbolic candidates, including Saudi envoy Yazid Al Farhan and former U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
Critics have accused Hezbollah and its allies of obstructing past presidential elections, but the group’s influence appears to have waned following heavy losses in its conflict with Israel last year. Reports indicate that Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an airstrike, further weakening the organization’s political standing.
Lebanon’s Economic Crisis
Lebanon remains mired in its worst economic crisis in history, with over $5 billion in losses attributed to last year’s Hezbollah-Israel conflict, according to the World Bank. Structural damage to the nation’s infrastructure adds further strain on the already crippled economy.
Aoun’s election comes just 17 days before the expiration of a ceasefire agreement that requires the deployment of Lebanese troops alongside UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The task of leading consultations to appoint a prime minister and form a government now falls on Aoun, who is widely viewed as a preferred candidate of both the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Despite reduced presidential powers since the end of Lebanon’s civil war in 1990, Aoun’s leadership will be pivotal in guiding the country through its complex challenges. His election marks the beginning of what many hope will be a period of political stability and economic recovery for Lebanon.
