Lebanon's parliament has successfully elected the US-backed army chief as the country's new president, putting an end to a prolonged political stalemate and presidential vacuum. Army chief Joseph Aoun secured the presidency after two rounds of voting, following extensive efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United States to garner support for Aoun, who maintains close ties with Washington and Riyadh.
Upon being declared president, Aoun transitioned from his military role and arrived at parliament dressed in civilian attire to be sworn in as the new leader. This development marks the resolution of Lebanon's presidential vacancy since the conclusion of former President Michel Aoun's term in October 2022. Notably, the former president was supported by Iran-backed Hezbollah, leading to unsuccessful negotiations for his successor and reigniting tensions between Lebanon's pro-Western and pro-Iranian factions.
Before the recent parliamentary sessions, there were 12 unsuccessful attempts to elect a president over the past two years. The US-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel last November played a pivotal role in expediting the long-awaited presidential election. Following Israel's significant military actions against Hezbollah and the subsequent downfall of Iran-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah and its Shia ally Amal ultimately supported Aoun in the second round of voting, where he secured victory with 99 out of 128 parliamentary votes.
While the Lebanese army did not engage in the direct conflict with Israel, it plays a crucial role in implementing the ceasefire agreement. The agreement mandates the army's deployment to Hezbollah-dominated areas in southern Lebanon, bordering Israel, and requires the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. Lebanon's confessional power-sharing system designates the president as a Maronite Christian, in line with the country's diverse religious demographics.
