After two years without leadership, Lebanon’s parliament elected Joseph Aoun as president on January 9, ending the longest power vacuum since the country’s civil war.
The former army commander won 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament in a second round of voting that brought together opposing political factions.
From Military Academy to National Leadership
Born in 1964 in Sin el-Fil, a northern suburb of Beirut, Joseph Khalil Aoun joined Lebanon’s military academy in 1983 during the Lebanese civil war. Through decades of service, Aoun earned three Lebanese Medals of War and completed American counterterrorism training.
In 2017, Aoun took command of the Lebanese army and quickly proved his abilities by routing Islamic State fighters from their strongholds along the Syria-Lebanon border.
Protest Votes Add Colour to Election
The solemn parliamentary session saw flashes of dark humour when several lawmakers cast protest ballots. One vote went to American Senator Bernie Sanders, prompting chuckles in the chamber.
One voice also bore the name “Joseph Nano”, a Lebanese actor famous for his role as Gargamel in the animated series “The Smurfs”. Other ballots bore messages like “Ugh, my country” and “The Lebanese Sovereignty is crying in the corner”.
Hard Choices Ahead
Joseph Aoun takes office as Lebanon grapples with stark realities. The country’s economic collapse has forced soldiers to take second jobs. The 2020 Beirut explosion killed more than 220 people. Recent Israeli bombing caused 4,000 Lebanese deaths before November’s ceasefire
In his inaugural address, Aoun tackled the question of Hezbollah’s weapons and Israel’s presence in Southern Lebanon, promising to “affirm the state’s right to monopolise the carrying of weapons” and “get rid of the Israeli occupation.” A US-brokered ceasefire requires Israel to pull out and Hezbollah to pull back from the Israeli border by January’s end, with the Lebanese army set to take control of these areas.
Foreign Backing Opens New Doors
During his military leadership, Joseph Aoun built strong ties with the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. These connections could help Lebanon access reconstruction aid. The US, which provides funding and training to the Lebanese military, backed Aoun ‘s candidacy.
Abdul Rahman Bizri, an independent parliament member, captured the mood: “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”.
Presidential Powers in Lebanese System
Lebanon’s constitution, crafted during French colonial rule and modified under the 1989 Taif Agreement, grants several powers to the president within the country’s power-sharing framework. The president chairs cabinet meetings, appoints the prime minister after consulting parliament, and commands the armed forces. The president must secure agreement from a cabinet for any major decisions.
Bridging Divides and Rebuilding Lebanon
Joseph Aoun promised specific actions in his acceptance speech: “We will invest in the army to control and secure the borders in the south and demarcate them in the east and north.”
The broad backing for Aoun shows rare agreement in Lebanese politics. Yet this unity faces its first test as Aoun starts the hard work of rebuilding a wounded country and managing ties between competing regional powers.
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