Lebanon Parliament Elects Army Chief as President

Aoun secured 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament to win the presidency in a second round of voting on Thursday afternoon – a move that came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted 14 months of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, as the country seeks aid for reconstruction.

A new phase in the history of Lebanon begins today,” 60-year-old Aoun told the chamber after he was sworn in.

Aoun’s victory, which saw members of parliament erupting in celebration as he reached the required threshold of 86 votes, came on the legislature’s 13th attempt to find a successor for Michel Aoun – not related – whose term ended in October 2022.

“There is no doubt the election of Joseph Aoun is a new era in Lebanon,” said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut.  “Joseph Aoun really is a favourite candidate of the international community, but … he really does enjoy support here.”

The balance of power in Lebanon had shifted, she said, noting that Israel’s war on Lebanon had “weakened” Hezbollah