Lebanon has finally elected a new president after an overwhelming two-year political deadlock. The Lebanese Parliament this morning elected Joseph Khalil “Joey” Aoun, the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Hezbollah Critic, as the 14th President of Lebanon, and he will serve for six years until 2031.
For those who don’t know, Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022, when Michel Aoun’s term ended. The political vacuum was worsened by the deep-seated religious divisions and the influence of external powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Lebanese parliament, known for its inability to reach a consensus, failed to elect a new president in over a dozen attempts, leaving the country in a state of political paralysis.
The election of Joseph Aoun is not without its controversies. Aoun, the 60-year-old army chief, was finally elected president after two rounds of voting in the 128-member parliament. He secured 99 votes in the second round after falling short of the two-third major in the first round, gathering 71 out of the 86 votes. Other major candidates, like the former Finance Minister Jihad Azour and General Security Head Elias al-Baysari, withdrew before the vote. After the second round, the election results were as follows; Joseph Aoun-99, others-2, canceled-18, Blank ballot-9.
Abdul Rahman Bizri, an independent member of parliament and a former mayor who says he voted for Aoun, said, “It’s long overdue that we really need to have a new president.” “We have to start working again in order to rebuild the public sector and institutions and stability in the country in order to achieve what people are aspiring for.”
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Despite Aoun’s massive win, he is seen by many as a puppet of the United States and its allies. The election of Aoun, who was backed as president by the United States and other Allied countries, constitutes a major Shift away from Hezbollah’s Influence in Lebanese Politics for the first time since the 1990s. The election comes in the wake of a fragile ceasefire between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel. A time when Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militant group, is at its weakest following a devastating conflict with Israel.
In his acceptance speech on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Joseph Aoun vowed to defend Lebanon, reform the financial sector and strengthen the country’s weakened state governing capabilities.
He said: “We will invest in the army to control and secure the borders in the south and demarcate them in the east and north, combating terrorism, implementing international resolutions and preventing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.” “It is time to invest in Lebanon through our foreign relations rather than betting on external powers to overpower one another.”
Sheikh Mohamed, the President of the United Arab Emirates, congratulated Aoun on his election victory and wished him success in his leadership journey in a post on X (Twitter).
President Joe Biden also congratulated Aoun saying, “President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time.”
While some hail Aoun’s election as a new dawn for Lebanon, others are skeptical. Can Aoun truly bring about the much-needed reforms, or is he merely a figurehead installed by foreign powers to serve their interests? The Lebanese people, who have endured years of economic hardship and political instability, are cautiously optimistic but remain wary of the challenges ahead.
Here we are, Lebanon. A new president, a new era, or just another chapter in the never-ending saga of political dysfunction? Only time will tell if Joseph Aoun can rise above the fray and lead Lebanon to a brighter future, or if he will be yet another name in the long list of leaders who failed to deliver on their promises. For now, Lebanon watches and waits, hoping that this time, things will be different.
