Joseph Aoun Elected Lebanon’s President After Two-Year Vacancy

Lebanon’s parliament has elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president, ending a two-year vacancy in the nation’s highest office.

Aoun, 60, was sworn in on Thursday to applause from lawmakers, wearing a dark suit and blue tie instead of his military uniform.

Speaking to the chamber, he declared, “A new phase in the history of Lebanon begins today.”

In his hometown of Aishiyeh, supporters celebrated, waving Lebanese flags and displaying his portrait.

The election brings Aoun to the forefront of efforts to address Lebanon’s financial crisis and oversee reforms demanded by international creditors.

He also faces the challenge of managing a fragile ceasefire with Israel and appointing a new prime minister to lead the country forward.

Aoun’s election required two rounds of voting due to resistance from Hezbollah-backed lawmakers, who initially left their ballots blank. In the second round, he secured 99 out of 128 votes.

The new president, Lebanon’s fifth army commander to assume the role, has strong backing from the United States and Saudi Arabia.

However, his election required navigating Lebanon’s constitutional requirement that presidential candidates abstain from high office for at least two years—prompting some lawmakers to protest the perceived foreign influence in his selection.

The vacancy began in October 2022 when Michel Aoun, unrelated to the newly elected president, left office.

This election marks a critical step for Lebanon as it grapples with economic losses exceeding $5 billion following last year’s Hezbollah-Israel conflict.