Lebanon's Army Chief Becomes New President

Lebanon's parliament elected Joseph Aoun, the country's army commander, as president after a long presidential vacancy of over two years. The vote happened soon after a ceasefire ended a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group. Aoun was backed by the U. S. and Saudi Arabia, who are crucial for Lebanon's reconstruction efforts. Parliament tried 13 times to elect a new president after Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022. Hezbollah initially supported another candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, but he withdrew and backed Aoun, clearing the way for his election. In the first voting round, Aoun fell short of the needed two-thirds majority. But in the second round, he won with 99 votes. Lebanon's power-sharing system often leads to deadlocks, and this wasn't the longest presidential gap the country has faced.

Aoun is the fifth former army commander to become president. However, the constitution bars high-ranking public servants from running within two years of leaving office. Because of this, Aoun needed a two-thirds majority in the second round. Aoun, 60, kept a low profile and never announced his candidacy. Other candidates included Jihad Azour and Elias al-Baysari. The new government must deal with economic crises, power shortages, and stalled IMF reforms, besides implementing the ceasefire and seeking reconstruction funds. Analysts say Aoun’s international backing helps, but he must navigate complex domestic politics, including relations with Hezbollah. His lack of economic experience means he'll rely heavily on advisors.

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