Lebanon elects Army Chief Joseph Aoun as president, ending 2-year political vacuum

Lebanon‘s parliament on Thursday elected Gen. Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as president, ending a more than two-year deadlock at the country’s top post.

Aoun’s election comes amid mounting political tensions, financial collapse and regional instability.

In the second round of voting, Aoun secured 99 votes out of 128, surpassing the required two-thirds majority stipulated in Article 49 of Lebanon’s constitution for serving members of the military.

The first round saw him falling short with 71 votes.

The session was convened by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri following weeks of intensified diplomacy involving the United States, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

2-year deadlock ends amid regional diplomacy

The election concludes a 27-month vacancy in the presidency since the term of alleged Hezbollah-backed Michel Aoun ended in October 2022.

The breakthrough follows a cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel that took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, halting a 13-month conflict involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s military has been instrumental in enforcing the truce, gradually deploying troops in southern Lebanon alongside U.N. peacekeepers.

Regional powers played a critical role in securing consensus on Aoun’s candidacy. Analysts see his election as a balancing act amid Lebanon’s fragmented political landscape, with Aoun regarded as a stabilizing figure with support from the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Stabilizing force for fractured nation

Joseph Aoun, 61, has headed the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017, navigating one of the country’s most respected institutions through a period of unprecedented financial crisis.

As salaries for its 80,000 soldiers were drastically slashed, Aoun secured international aid to sustain the military’s operations.

He is seen as a non-partisan figure in a nation deeply divided along sectarian and political lines. “Within the Lebanese army, he is perceived as someone who is dedicated … who has the national interest at heart,” said Karim Bitar, an international relations expert at Saint-Joseph University speaking to the Al-Monitor.

Who is Joseph Aoun?

Aoun was born in 1964 to a Maronite Christian family in the Sin el-Fil suburb east of Beirut. He holds degrees in political science from the Lebanese American University and military science. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, Aoun underwent extensive military training in Lebanon, Syria, and the United States, specializing in counterterrorism and leadership.

Since he was appointed army chief, Aoun has built a reputation for personal integrity. He gained prominence in 2017 after leading operations to drive the Daesh terrorist organization from Lebanon’s northeastern border.

Challenges ahead

Aoun’s presidency begins amid Lebanon’s ongoing financial collapse, a crisis that has pushed more than 80% of the population into poverty.

The new president is tasked with navigating political divisions, stabilizing the economy, and managing delicate relationships with regional and international actors.

Lebanon’s fractured parliament had failed in 12 previous attempts to elect a president, underscoring the deep divisions among the country’s political blocs. With his election, Aoun will face immediate challenges, including maintaining the ceasefire with Israel and addressing Lebanon’s mounting economic woes.