Joseph Aoun Ascends to Lebanon's Presidency After Long Political Stalemate

Lebanese lawmakers ended a two-year presidential deadlock by electing General Joseph Aoun, the respected army commander, as the nation’s 14th president amid mounting economic and political challenges.

General Aoun, who has led the army since 2017, now becomes the 14th president of Lebanon, following more than two years of political deadlock since the departure of Michel Aoun from Baabda Palace in October 2022.

Joseph Aoun is the latest military figure to ascend to the presidency, joining predecessors such as Fouad Chehab and Michel Sleiman.

However, some political factions, including the Free Patriotic Movement led by Gebran Bassil, argue that electing a military official contravenes constitutional norms.