Army Chief Joseph Aoun Elected President Of Lebanon

Beirut: The lawmakers of Lebanon on Thursday voted for the second time in the day to elect Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the President of the Middle-Eastern Nation. Aoun, the army chief, won the election with 99 votes in the second round of voting. This comes after a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Aoun received 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament, surpassing the required majority of 86 votes needed in the second round. Following his election, Aoun officially stepped down from his military position and arrived at parliament to take the presidential oath. 

Earlier in the day, Aoun fell short of the two-thirds majority required in the first round of voting, securing support from 71 lawmakers.

Lebanon Had Been Without President Since October 2022

Lebanon had been without a president since the term of Hezbollah-backed Michel Aoun ended in October 2022. Before Thursday’s vote, Lebanon’s parliament had failed 12 times to elect a president over the past two years. This came just weeks ahead of a deadline on 26 January for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

Aoun's election is seen as a major development, as he has the backing of major international players, including the United States and Saudi Arabia. This support is crucial, as Lebanon seeks to rebuild after the devastating conflict.

However, the new president faces several challenges, including implementing the ceasefire agreement and securing funds for reconstruction. Lebanon is also grappling with a severe economic crisis, which has decimated the country's currency and left many without access to basic necessities like electricity.

Analysts believe that Aoun's experience as army chief will serve him well in navigating the complex web of Lebanese politics. However, his lack of experience in economic matters may require him to rely heavily on his advisors.

As Lebanon begins this new chapter, many are hopeful that Aoun's leadership will bring stability and prosperity to the country.

Who Is Joseph Aoun

The 60-year-old, newly-elected Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun is a career soldier and now the fifth Lebanese army commander in the nation’s history to assume the presidency. Born in Sin el-Fil near Beirut, Aoun joined the Lebanese army in 1983 during the country’s civil war. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks and was appointed head of the military in 2017. He is married with two children.

Aoun is widely recognised for maintaining the stability of the Lebanese army during the country’s severe financial crisis. He is seen as an ally of both Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Under his leadership, the army avoided direct involvement in the year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. He also played a key role in upholding a 60-day ceasefire brokered by Washington and Paris in November, which required the Lebanese army to deploy in southern Lebanon as both Israeli and Hezbollah forces began withdrawing.

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In a rare 2017 interview with pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar, Aoun promised to “limit political interference” in the military. However, he refrained from discussing his presidential ambitions publicly.