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Lebanon Begins Session to Elect a New President After More Than Two Years
The Lebanese Parliament opened a session dedicated to the election of the country's president on Thursday, following more than two years of vacancy in the presidential office. This session is expected to result in the election of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, who is considered the frontrunner for the position.
The session began on time after a quorum was reached, attended by French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al Farhan, as well as ambassadors from the quintet committee overseeing the presidential file and a group of diplomats.
Although not all obstacles have been overcome yet, particularly in awaiting the stance of the Shiite duo and the Free Patriotic Movement, other parliamentary blocs have shown a consensus to support the election of General Joseph Aoun as the new president during this session.
In the recent hours, meetings and consultations among political forces have intensified in an attempt to reach an agreement on General Aoun, who enjoys backing from several regional and international countries, even as the possibility of surprises remains open.
The election session, which started at 11:00 AM Beirut time (9:00 GMT), coincides with the aftermath of a devastating war that has weakened Hezbollah, one of the key players on the Lebanese scene, as well as the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in neighboring Syria.
In the hours leading up to the session, significant support for Army Commander General Joseph Aoun became apparent, with numerous Lebanese politicians expressing their endorsement for him.
Electing a new president after the successive crises Lebanon has faced since 2019 could indicate the beginning of a phase of relative stability. However, the incoming president faces major challenges, primarily the reconstruction efforts following the recent war that devastated parts of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut.
These challenges also include the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, which entails adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 issued in 2006, calling for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon except for legitimate forces and ensuring Hezbollah stays away from the borders.
Moreover, the current circumstances require urgent reforms to stimulate the Lebanese economy, which has suffered from an unprecedented collapse for more than five years.
