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

Lebanon’s parliament has elected army chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, bringing an end to a protracted political stalemate that has left the nation without a head of state for over a year and a half, CNN reports.

Aoun, who enjoys strong backing from the United States, secured the presidency after two rounds of voting in parliament.

The election comes after a concerted push by Saudi Arabia and the United States, both of whom have close ties with Aoun. The new president’s ascension marks a significant shift in Lebanese politics, which has been deeply divided between pro-Western and pro-Iranian factions.

Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022, when the term of Michel Aoun, who is not related to the newly elected president, ended. Michel Aoun had the backing of the Iranian-supported Hezbollah, and subsequent negotiations to find his successor proved unsuccessful, further exacerbating existing tensions. The parliament had failed to elect a president in 12 previous attempts over the last two years.

While the Lebanese army remained neutral in the Israel-Hezbollah fighting, it is now tasked with playing a crucial role in implementing the ceasefire agreement. This includes deploying to areas in southern Lebanon, which border Israel, that are traditionally under Hezbollah’s control, as well as overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.

Joseph Aoun’s election signals a potential re-alignment of power in Lebanon, which operates under a confessional power-sharing system that dictates the president must be a Maronite Christian. The election of Aoun, with his strong ties to the West and his role in implementing a pivotal ceasefire agreement, could indicate a shift away from Iranian influence.