Lebanon Elects Army Chief Joseph Aoun as President, Ending Political Deadlock

Beirut: Lebanon’s parliament on Thursday elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, ending a protracted political stalemate that had left the presidency vacant for over a year. Aoun’s election came after two rounds of voting, following intense diplomatic lobbying by the United States and Saudi Arabia, both of which share close ties with the new president.

After his election, Aoun resigned from his military position and appeared in parliament in civilian attire to take the presidential oath. In his inaugural address, he pledged to lead Lebanon into a “new era,” emphasizing his commitment to addressing the country’s deep-seated economic and political crises. Aoun also made a bold commitment to consolidate all weapons under state authority, signaling his intent to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group that wields significant military and political power in Lebanon.

Hezbollah, widely regarded as the most heavily armed non-state actor in the Middle East, has faced growing challenges following its recent losses in the conflict with Israel. The group’s position has further weakened due to the deteriorating influence of its key ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in November. This agreement mandated Hezbollah’s withdrawal from border areas with Israel and required Israeli forces to vacate Lebanese territory by January’s end.

Although the Lebanese Army did not participate directly in the recent conflict, it played a critical role in enforcing the ceasefire terms. In his speech, Aoun highlighted the importance of reclaiming Lebanese sovereignty and proposed the development of a national defense strategy independent of Hezbollah. “The Lebanese state—let me reiterate, the state—will work to rid itself of Israeli occupation,” Aoun declared. He vowed to address the issue of defense comprehensively during his presidency, aiming to ensure the state’s monopoly over military actions and responses to Israeli aggression.

Lebanon had been without a president since October 2022, when former president Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah ally, completed his term. Repeated attempts to elect a successor had failed 12 times over the past two years, reflecting Lebanon’s deep divisions between pro-Western and pro-Iran factions.

In the second round of voting, Joseph Aoun secured 99 out of 128 votes, with Hezbollah’s parliamentary faction offering its support to promote national unity after abstaining in the first round. The move by Hezbollah, seen as a gesture to safeguard its influence while signaling its stance on sovereignty, was pivotal in breaking the political impasse.

With Joseph Aoun’s election, Lebanon now faces the challenge of navigating its internal divisions and rebuilding its economy under his leadership.