Lebanese Army Commander-in-Chief Elected President, What Does the US Say?

The Lebanese parliament on January 9 elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president, breaking the deadlock that has left the country without a head of state since October 2022.

The Lebanese presidency has been vacant since Michel Aoun’s term ends in October 2022, with deeply divided factions unable to agree on a candidate who can win enough votes in the 128-seat parliament, Reuters reported. Joseph Aoun is not related to Michel Aoun.

Mr. Joseph Aoun after being elected president of the country at the parliament building in the capital Beirut of Lebanon on January 9.

General Aoun failed to get the required 86 votes in the first round of voting, but crossed the threshold with 99 votes in the second round, according to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, after lawmakers from Hezbollah and its Shi'ite ally the Amal Movement backed Aoun.

After being declared president, Mr. Aoun resigned as commander-in-chief of the army and went to parliament to take the oath of office.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Aoun hailed the beginning of a “new era” in Lebanon, pledging to lift the country out of its myriad economic and political crises. He also made a rare promise of “full control of arms” at state command, an apparent reference to Hezbollah’s arsenal.

Earlier, Hezbollah's long-supported presidential candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, withdrew and announced his support for the army chief. Reuters quoted a source as saying that French, American and Saudi envoys had told Berri that international financial aid, including from Saudi Arabia, was contingent on Aoun's election.

"There is a very clear message from the international community that they are ready to support Lebanon, but that requires a president, a government. We have received a message of support from Saudi Arabia," Lebanese lawmaker Michel Mouawad told Reuters before the vote.

The election of General Aoun as president is the first step toward restoring government institutions in a country without a head of state or a fully empowered cabinet since Michel Aoun left office. Lebanon is in need of international assistance to rebuild after the conflict.

General Aoun played a key role in cementing a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel brokered by Washington and Paris in November 2024. The terms required the Lebanese army to deploy to southern Lebanon as Israeli and Hezbollah troops withdrew.

Joseph Aoun (61 years old) has been the commander of the US-backed Lebanese army since 2017. Under his direction, US aid continues to flow to the Lebanese army, part of a long-standing US policy focused on supporting state institutions to curb Hezbollah's influence, according to Reuters.

US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson said today that she was "very pleased" that General Aoun was elected president. Ms. Johnson and other foreign envoys attended the January 9 session of the Lebanese Parliament, where Mr. Aoun was elected president, according to Reuters.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-tu-lenh-quan-doi-li-bang-duoc-bau-lam-tong-thong-my-noi-gi-185250109211830208.htm