Lebanon’s parliament has elected the country’s army chief, Joseph Aoun, as president, ending a power vacuum that has lasted over two years.
Aoun’s candidacy was supported by various political parties, as well as by the US, France, and Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, a rival candidate backed by the Hezbollah militia withdrew and endorsed Aoun.
The presidency in Lebanon is largely a ceremonial role, reserved for a Christian under the country’s sectarian power-sharing system.
The election comes six weeks after Lebanon’s government agreed to a ceasefire to end a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, a conflict that severely weakened the Iran-backed Shiite militia.
The Lebanese army was not involved in the war but plays a critical role in the ceasefire agreement, which includes deploying soldiers in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces withdraw and ensuring Hezbollah ends its armed presence there by January 26.
Aoun, 60, a career soldier, has served as the army’s commander since 2017.
During his tenure, he has led the military through numerous crises that have affected Lebanon, including the 13-month Hezbollah-Israel conflict, a six-year economic depression considered one of the worst in modern history, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion that claimed over 200 lives.
Lebanon has lacked a fully functioning government since the parliamentary elections in May 2022.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati was unable to secure support for a new cabinet before the term of then-president Michel Aoun expired in October, leaving the administration with limited powers.
Lawmakers subsequently failed to elect a new president in 12 attempts, the most recent being in June 2023 when no candidate received enough votes to win the first round and Hezbollah and its ally Amal blocked a second round by walking out.
In Lebanon, a presidential candidate typically requires a two-thirds majority, or 86 votes, in the 128-seat parliament to be elected in the first round, or a simple majority in a second round. However, Speaker Nabih Berri stated that Aoun, as the sitting army commander, needed a two-thirds majority in any round.
In the first round on Thursday morning, Aoun received 71 votes, 15 short of the required number. Another 37 lawmakers, many of whom were reportedly from Hezbollah and Amal, cast blank ballots, while 20 ballots were deemed invalid.
Berri, leader of Amal, then suspended the session until the afternoon, causing frustration among lawmakers who wanted the second round to take place immediately.
Aoun was eventually elected president after receiving 99 votes in the second round, easily securing the necessary two-thirds majority. Nine lawmakers cast blank ballots, and 18 ballots were invalid.
When the result was announced by the speaker, TV channels broadcast scenes of celebration across the country. Aoun was later seen arriving at the parliament building in a suit, inspecting the guards, and then entering the chamber to be sworn in.