(CLO) On Thursday (January 9), the Lebanese Parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president, a position that has been vacant for many years. The appointment of this general shows the weakening of Hezbollah after the war with Israel and is expected to help stabilize the situation in Lebanon.
In his speech to parliament, Mr Aoun, 60, promised to rebuild southern Lebanon and other parts of the country that he said had been destroyed by Israel, and also to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanon. "Today, a new phase in the history of Lebanon begins," he said.
Lebanon's presidency has been vacant since Michel Aoun's term ends in October 2022, with deeply divided factions unable to agree on a candidate who could win enough votes in the 128-seat parliament.
Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun reviews an honor guard as he arrives at the Lebanese Parliament in Beirut to be sworn in on January 9, 2025. (Photo courtesy of AP, not for re-release)
Mr Joseph Aoun failed to get the required 86 votes in the first round, but crossed the threshold with 99 votes in the second round, after lawmakers from Hezbollah and its Shiite ally the Amal Movement backed him.
His election reflects a shift in the balance of power in Lebanon and the Middle East in general, as the Shiite Muslim force Hezbollah suffered heavy losses in last year's war, while its ally, President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, was toppled in December.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar congratulated Lebanon and hoped Aoun's election would contribute to stability and good neighborly relations between the two countries. US Ambassador Lisa Johnson said she was "very pleased" with Aoun's election.
"These elections must now be followed by the appointment of a strong government" capable of "implementing the reforms necessary for Lebanon's economic recovery, stability, security and sovereignty," French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said.
Lebanon's economy, still reeling from a 2019 financial crisis, is in dire need of aid to rebuild after a war that the World Bank estimates has cost the country $8.5 billion.
However, Lebanon's international bonds, which have been in default since 2020, rose in price after Aoun's victory was announced.
Mr. Aoun played a key role in cementing a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel brokered by the United States and France in November 2024. The deal required the Lebanese army to deploy into southern Lebanon, while Israel and Hezbollah withdrew.
Hoang Anh (according to LEN, Reuters, AJ)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lebanon-co-tong-thong-moi-sau-gan-3-nam-hy-vong-giup-binh-on-tinh-hinh-post329779.html
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