Favorite party, Joseph Aoun was elected Thursday January 9 by the deputies during a second round of voting while Lebanon had been deprived of a head of state for more than two years, due to deep differences between political blocs .
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“ A new era in Lebanon’s history begins today », announced the now new president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. The commander-in-chief of the army, Joseph Aoun, was elected President of the Lebanese Republic this Thursday, after receiving 99 votes out of a total of 128 deputies, ending a vacation of more than two years at the head of the country.
According to its first declarations, the State “ will have a monopoly on weapons », and the new president commits to rapid consultations to appoint a Prime Minister.
The election of Joseph Aoun took place after a meeting between representatives of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah blocs and its ally, the Amal movement, and the commander-in-chief of the army in Parliament, thus ensuring him the necessary majority to take it away. He only received 71 votes in the first round voting in the morning.
Application supported by the United States, the West and Saudi Arabia
It was the change in position of the 27 Shiite deputies, divided between Hezbollah and its ally the Amal movement of the President of Parliament Nabih Berry, which made it possible to break the deadlock. During the first round, the Shiite deputies had placed a blank ballot in the ballot box, reports our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh.
As soon as the first round ended and the session was suspended, the head of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc and a deputy close to Nabih Berry met Joseph Aoun for almost an hour. A meeting which resulted in the election of the head of the army to the post of President of the Republic.
The conduct of the election does not mean that Joseph Aoun owes his election exclusively to the Shiites. The army chief’s candidacy was desired and supported by the United States, Western countries and Saudi Arabia. The Shiite parties did not really have the possibility of blocking his election without being at odds with a large part of the political forces and the population.
Chief of the army
During the final meeting, they tried to obtain details on Joseph Aoun’s intentions and asked for guarantees on the fact that he will place the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon and the reconstruction of devastated areas at the top of his priorities. by war.
Joseph Aoun has no political experience, but benefits from his position at the head of one of the most respected institutions in the country, undermined by political and financial crises. The general, who will celebrate his 61st birthday tomorrow Friday and who has no family ties with outgoing president Michel Aounhas led since March 2017 an institution that has been able to stay away from the sectarian and political dissensions that are tearing the country apart.
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