Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army chief, was elected president after a two-year vacancy. His election is seen as a step towards addressing the country's severe economic crisis and stabilizing the region.
Lebanon ’s lawmakers elected on Thursday army chief Joseph Aou n as president after a two-year vacancy of the position, in a step towards lifting the war-battered country out of financial crisis. Aoun, who turns 61 on Friday, arrived inside parliament to swear his oath to general applause, wearing a dark suit and bright blue tie instead of his usual military uniform.
Supporters erupted in celebration in his home village of Aishiyeh in south Lebanon, where residents had gathered from the morning in front of the church which was adorned with Lebanese flags and his portrait, an AFP reporter said. “The president is Joseph Aoun,“ Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said after 99 lawmakers out of 128 backed his candidacy. Aoun faces the daunting tasks of overseeing a ceasefire on the Israeli border and naming a prime minister to lead reforms demanded by international creditors to save the country from the worst economic crisis of its history.The Mediterranean country has been without a president since the term of Michel Aoun -- not related to his successor -- ended in October 2022, with tensions between the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its opponents scuppering a dozen previous votes. International pressure has mounted for a successful outcome with just 17 days remaining in a ceasefire to deploy Lebanese troops alongside UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon after a Hezbollah-Israel war last autumn.But filling the position is key to overseeing consultations towards naming a new prime minister to lead a government capable of carrying out reforms demanded by international creditors. Aoun was widely seen as the preferred pick of army backer the United States, as well as regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. But lawmakers from the pro-Hezbollah bloc voted blank in the first round of the vote on Thursday morning, a source close to them said, leaving army chief Aoun short of the required two-thirds majority to win outright. The source said representatives from the bloc met Aoun at the parliament during a break before lawmakers returned for a second vote.US, Saudi and French envoys have visited Beirut to increase pressure in the run-up to the vote. Pope Francis on Thursday expressed hope that Lebanon could “possess the necessary institutional stability... to address the grave economic and social situation”. Several lawmakers in the second round still objected to what they see as foreign interference in the vote. In protest, some rendered their ballot void by voting for “sovereignty and the constitution”, a reference to the fact that Aoun’s election would have technically required a constitutional amendment. Under Lebanon’s constitution, any presidential candidate must have not held high office for at least two years. In the first round, one lawmaker sarcastically cast a vote for the Saudi envoy to Lebanon, Yazid Al Farhan.Critics have accused Hezbollah and allies of scuppering previous votes. But a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah last autumn dealt heavy blows to the Shiite militant group, including the death of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike. In neighbouring Syria, Hezbollah has lost a major ally after rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad last month. The Hezbollah-Israel war has cost Lebanon more than $5 billion in economic losses, with structural damage amounting to billions more, according to the World Bank
LEBANON PRESIDENT JOSEPH AOU HEZBOLLAH ISRAEL ECONOMIC CRISIS
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lebanon army falls short of requisite majority in first round of president voteLebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun on Thursday fell short of the two-thirds majority to become president in the first round of a parliamentary vote.
Read more »
MALBATT 850-12 to enhance readiness, vigilance in Lebanon missionMALBATT 850-12 will enhance its preparedness and vigilance to face any eventuality while carrying out its peacekeeping mission safely in Lebanon.
Read more »
Malbatt 850-11 battalion commander shares challenges during 'Northern Arrow' crisis in LebanonThe former TVB star required four stitches from his first fall and sustained a pelvic injury in the second.
Read more »
Ex-Syrian Army Chief Jailed for 10 Years in Germany for War CrimesA former Syrian army chief, Ahmad H., was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Germany for war crimes committed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad. The court found him guilty of torture, deprivation of liberty, and enslavement.
Read more »
Lebanon Refugee Camp Overwhelmed by New Arrivals Amidst Israel-Hezbollah ConflictA refugee camp in Dbayeh, Lebanon, is struggling to cope with a new influx of internally displaced families fleeing the violence between Israel and Hezbollah. The camp, established for Christian Palestinian refugees, was already at capacity when the conflict escalated in September 2023.
Read more »
Lebanon Refugee Camp Struggles Amidst Israel-Hezbollah WarThe Dbayeh refugee camp in Lebanon, home to Christian Palestinian refugees, is facing extreme hardship due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Read more »