Lebanon has just elected a new president: Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army Joseph Aoun. Who is he?

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

HIBAPRESS-RABAT

Lebanon has just turned a page to open another which will certainly be more peaceful and prosperous with a new president who has gathered the necessary vote and who enjoys sincere credibility with all Lebanese people.

So today, Thursday, Lebanese deputies met to elect a head of state even though the country had been deprived of one for more than two years due to deep differences between political blocs.

As a result, Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army Joseph Aoun was elected today, Thursday, January 9, President of Lebanon after the second round, by 99 votes out of a total of 128 deputies. His election took place after a meeting between representatives of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah blocs and its ally, the Amal movement, and the commander-in-chief of the army in Parliament, thus ensuring him the majority necessary to win. In the first round of voting, in the morning, he received only 71 votes.

General Aoun, who has no family ties with outgoing President Michel Aoun, has led since March 2017 an institution that has been able to stay away from the sectarian and political dissensions that are tearing the country apart.

Within the army, he knew how to maneuver to overcome crises, notably an economic collapse which hit the pay of his 80,000 soldiers hard, forcing him to accept international aid to preserve his institution.

Aged 61, the general, a novice in politics, has taken advantage of his position at the head of the military institution and enjoys the support of several foreign powers, such as the United States and Saudi Arabia.