Lebanon is on the verge of electing army chief Joseph Aoun as president amid a historic regional shift. The election comes after two years without a head of state and marks a diminished role for Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Aoun, 60, has been commander of the U.S.-backed Lebanese army since 2017. He enjoys U.S. approval and has secured enough votes to win, according to three senior political sources. The election is seen as a test of Lebanon’s power balance, with Western and Arab contacts intensifying efforts to secure Aoun’s victory.
The post has been vacant since October 2022, with none of the groups in the parliament having enough seats to impose their choice. Hezbollah’s preferred candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, withdrew his candidacy and declared support for Aoun, along with a growing number of other lawmakers.
Saudi Arabia, once a major player in Lebanon, has renewed its interest in the country, meeting with Lebanese politicians ahead of the session. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot expressed hope that the election would be a prerequisite for Lebanon’s economic and social recovery.
The election is significant as it comes against a backdrop of change in the wider Middle East. Aoun’s leadership could help shore up the ceasefire brokered by Washington and Paris, and his victory would mark a new phase for the country.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/with-hezbollah-weakened-lebanon-hold-presidential-vote-2025-01-08