Lebanese parliament legitimatized General Joseph Aoun, army chief of the country, as their new president after an extended political deadlock which deprived the country of a head of state for more than two years. This event is deemed most important in the action for stabilization of a country that has faced political, economic, and security challenges.
The eventual seal on General Aoun’s presidency was thus currently possible because of the wide support given by major political sects as well as influential international players like the U.S, France, and Saudi Arabia. His candidacy to the largely ceremonial post constitutionally reserved for a Maronite Christian under Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system received impetus when an alternative candidate supported by Hezbollah, the powerful Shia Muslim militia and political party, withdrew on Wednesday and agreed to back the army commander.
This election comes at a politically critical time for Lebanon, with the ink on a ceasefire among a quick but far-reaching war with Israel still wet. The war wreaked havoc in southern Lebanon but left Hezbollah politically weakened and its strongholds in disarray. General Aoun’s presidency is expected to become instrumental in navigating the after-war sensitive environment.
The quarterback, the General Joseph Aoun, who has been Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) since 2017, is considered by all to be a unifying one in one of the most broken countries around the world. During his tenure, he earned respect both domestically and internationally for maintaining the neutrality of the military in a nation often divided along sectarian lines. The Lebanese army did not take part in the recent fight with Israel, in a decision perceived by some as most important in order to maintain its image and functional soundness.
According to the ceasefire conditions signed six weeks ago, the Lebanese army is obliged to perform an important function to ensure peace and stability in the south. With Israeli military forces pulling back from the border area, the LAF is tasked with dispatching troops to what used to be purely Hezbollah controlled ground and to disarm (by January 26) the group’s armed militia. General Aoun’s leadership at this juncture in the hope of laying a strong foundation for consensus in the agreement.
The elevation of Joseph Aoun to the presidency will probably alter in Lebanon the political landscape. His coming to office was due to a convergence of Lebanese political interests on the part of otherwise opposing Lebanese power blocs–and the foreign parliaments, all of whom consider his political leadership a stabilizing factor in an insecure world.
Hezbollah’s decision to withdraw its favored nominee and support Aoun comes as the group’s power is reduced after the recent fighting. Analysts suggest that Hezbollah may have opted for compromise to avoid further isolation and preserve its political influence in the face of mounting domestic and international pressure.
Internationally the presidency of Aoun is likely to solidify Lebanon’s relationship with the Western world and the Gulf states, with an emphasis on the US which, for many years, has backed the Lebanese Armed Forces in opposition to Hezbollah’s power.
With Lebanon once again staring down the abyss of rebuilding following years of political stalemate, economic collapse, and war, election of Joseph Aoun, is a beacon of hope for a torn nation of desperately wanted unity and leadership. While the challenges ahead remain immense, many see his presidency as an opportunity to chart a new course for Lebanon, one rooted in stability, security, and cooperation.
Lebanon’s citizens and their partners now rely on President Aoun to fulfill his promise of leadership and lead the country through one of the most challenging periods in the Lebanese recent history.
