The commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun, was elected this Thursday, January 9, President of the Republic, ending a vacancy of more than two years at the head of the country, which aggravated its crises economic and political.
Joseph Aoun received 99 votes out of 128 in Parliament during a second session in the afternoon. He obtained only 71 votes in the first round of voting in the morning, the 30 deputies from the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and its ally, the Shiite Amal movement, having voted blank. But a meeting in Parliament between representatives of the two parties and the commander-in-chief of the army in Parliament, between the two rounds, changed the situation, ensuring him the majority necessary to win. The president-elect, in civilian clothes, entered the chamber to applause to take the oath.
The candidacy of the commander-in-chief of the army, who has a reputation for probity and impartiality, was supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia, a regional heavyweight, according to Lebanese political leaders. Ambassadors from several countries as well as the French envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, attended the parliamentary session.
Diplomatic pressure has intensified on parliamentarians to push them to choose the commander-in-chief of the army. Hezbollah, a key player on the political scene, emerged weakened after two months of war with Israel and the fall in early December of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ally.
Under Lebanon’s confessional power-sharing system, the presidency of Lebanon is reserved for a Maronite Christian. Lebanon had a presidential system but the powers of the head of state were largely reduced by the Taef agreement which ended the civil war (1975-1990) in favor of the Council of Ministers chaired by a Muslim. Sunni.
Key role
Since the end of the mandate of the outgoing president, Michel Aoun (no relation to the commander-in-chief of the army), in October 2022, Parliament has failed to elect a president. Hezbollah’s detractors accuse it of having blocked the election by wanting to impose its candidate, Sleiman Frangié. However, the latter announced on Wednesday his withdrawal from the race in favor of army commander.
Analysts say the army’s key role in implementing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into force on November 27, was a determining factor in Joseph Aoun’s rise to power. presidency.
This election was held after a serious setback inflicted by Israel on Hezbollah in the war between them, notably killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The ceasefire agreement provides for the deployment of the Lebanese army in the border areas as the Israeli army withdraws from the areas it occupied during the conflict. Hezbollah must withdraw its troops north of the Litani River and dismantle all military infrastructure in the region. The United States, France and the UN supervise the mechanism for implementing the ceasefire.
Joy
Since the start of the week, the American envoys Amos Hochstein, Saudi Yazid Al Farhane and French Jean-Yves Le Drian have had separate meetings with Lebanese deputies and political figures. MPs who met Amos Hochstein and Yazid Al Farhane affirmed that Washington and Riyadh supported the candidacy of Joseph Aoun.
In Aïchiyé, the army commander’s native village in southern Lebanon, the residents expressed their joy, noted an AFP correspondent. Portraits of General Aoun adorned the streets, accompanied by slogans of support.
Joseph Aoun was to be elected, the Constitution should be amended because it prohibits the election of senior officials in office or who have held office in the last two years. The new president has the difficult task of appointing a Prime Minister to head a new cabinet who will have to obtain the confidence of the international community and implement urgent reforms intended to revive the economy and rebuild devastated areas. in the south.