The head of the army chose the president of Lebanon

Lebanon’s parliament has elected the head of the country’s army as president, ending a power vacuum that has lasted more than two years.

Joseph Aoun’s candidacy was supported by several political parties, including the US, France and Saudi Arabia.

A rival Hezbollah-backed militia withdrew on Wednesday and accepted the command.

The presidency is a ceremonial role reserved for Christians under a sectarian power-sharing system.

The election came six weeks after the Lebanese government agreed to a ceasefire to end the devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, which significantly weakened the Iran-backed Shiite Muslim group.

The Lebanese army was not involved in the conflict and has a key role under the ceasefire agreement, which calls for troops to be deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw and for Hezbollah to ensure that it ends its armed presence there by January 26.

Aoun, 60, is a career soldier who has been army commander since 2017.

During this time, he has guided the organization through the deep crises that have affected Lebanon.

These include the 13-month Hezbollah-Israel conflict, a six-year economic depression that is among the worst on record in modern times, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion that killed more than 200 people.

Lebanon has not had a properly functioning government since the last parliamentary elections in May 2022.

Interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati was unable to secure the backing of a new cabinet before then-President Michel Aoun’s term ended in October, leaving his administration with reduced powers.

Then, the members of parliament failed to elect a new president in 12 occasions. The last time was in June 2023, when a candidate won enough votes to win the first round before Hezbollah and its ally Amal prevented a second round.

A Lebanese presidential candidate can usually be elected in the first round if he wins a two-thirds majority — or 86 votes — in the 128-seat parliament, or in a second round with a simple majority. However, spokesman Nabih Berri said Aoun needed a two-thirds majority in any round because he was the sitting army commander.

In the first round on Thursday morning, 71 members of parliament voted in favor of Aoun, 15 short of what he requested. Another 37 members of parliament – many of whom are said to be from Hezbollah and Amal – voted blank, and 20 votes were considered invalid.

Berri, who is the leader of Amale, suspended the session until the evening, and it sparked anger among the members of parliament who wanted the second round to be held immediately.

In the end, Aoun was elected president after receiving 99 votes in the second round, easily obtaining the necessary two-thirds majority. Nine members of parliament cast blank votes, in addition to 18 invalid votes.

As soon as the speaker announced the result, television channels showed scenes of celebration across the country.

Aoun was later seen arriving at the parliament building in a suit and then inspecting guards before entering the swearing-in chamber.