Joseph Aoun secured 99 votes in the second round, surpassing the 86-vote threshold to win
\n Beirut
\nLebanon\u2019s parliament elected General Joseph Aoun as president on Thursday, ending over two years of political deadlock.
\nAoun, the US-approved army chief, secured 99 votes in the second round of voting, overcoming the initial 86-vote threshold needed to win, with the backing of Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement.
\nThis election signifies a shift in Lebanon\u2019s political landscape, as the once-dominant Iran-backed Hezbollah group sees its influence wane. The group has suffered significant losses in the recent war with Israel, and its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad\u2019s position was weakened by his December ouster.
\nAdditionally, Aoun\u2019s election is seen as a rebirth of Saudi influence in Lebanon, where Riyadh\u2019s role had been overshadowed by Iran and Hezbollah in recent years.
\nThe presidency, reserved for a Maronite Christian under Lebanon\u2019s sectarian power-sharing system, had been vacant since Michel Aoun\u2019s term ended in October 2022. Political divisions had delayed the election, with factions unable to agree on a candidate.
\nHowever, momentum behind Joseph Aoun grew significantly after Hezbollah\u2019s preferred candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, withdrew and endorsed the army commander.
\nThe push for Aoun\u2019s election was further supported by diplomatic efforts from French and Saudi envoys, who met with Lebanese politicians in the lead-up to the vote.
\nAccording to sources, they conveyed that international financial aid, including from Saudi Arabia, was contingent on Aoun\u2019s election. Christian lawmaker Michel Mouawad, who voted for Aoun, confirmed that Saudi Arabia expressed its support for the candidate.
\nAoun\u2019s victory is viewed as a crucial step toward restoring Lebanon\u2019s weakened government institutions.
\nWith Lebanon\u2019s economy still reeling from the financial collapse of 2019, the new president\u2019s primary challenge will be to stabilise the country and secure international assistance for reconstruction. The World Bank has estimated the cost of rebuilding Lebanon\u2019s war-torn infrastructure at $8.5 billion.
\nThe Lebanese political system mandates that the new president engage in consultations to nominate a Sunni Muslim prime minister and form a new cabinet, a process often bogged down by sectarian negotiations.
\nAs commander of the Lebanese army since 2017, Joseph Aoun played a pivotal role in navigating Lebanon through internal challenges, including the national financial crisis and the violent war between Hezbollah and Israel.
\nDespite Hezbollah\u2019s deep reservations about his candidacy, Aoun kept the army neutral during the conflict, which claimed the lives of more than 40 Lebanese soldiers but did not escalate into direct clashes between the army and Israel.
\nAoun, 60, has maintained a low profile in public and has rarely addressed his views on Hezbollah\u2019s military capabilities, though he has expressed a desire to limit political interference in the army\u2019s operations.
\nHis election marks a significant moment in Lebanon\u2019s history, with both regional and international stakeholders closely watching how he will navigate the nation\u2019s fraught political and economic realities in the years ahead.
\nIn his new role, Aoun will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire brokered by Washington and Paris in November, which involves the Lebanese military deploying to southern Lebanon as part of the terms of withdrawal for both Israeli and Hezbollah forces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Joseph Aoun secured 99 votes in the second round, surpassing the 86-vote threshold to win Beirut Lebanon\u2019s parliament elected General Joseph Aoun as president on Thursday, ending over two years of political deadlock. Aoun, the US-approved army chief, secured 99 votes in the second round of voting, overcoming the initial 86-vote threshold needed to win, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":454533,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-454517","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n