09/01/2025
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09/01/2025
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BEIRUT, Jan 9: Lebanon’s parliament has ended a two-year presidential vacuum by electing army commander Joseph Aoun as head of state in a session that followed a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Aoun, widely supported by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, won after former candidate Suleiman Frangieh withdrew and endorsed him. Aoun pledged judicial reforms, anti-corruption measures, and consolidating state control over weapons, referencing Hezbollah. The election required a two-thirds majority due to constitutional challenges, with Aoun securing 99 votes in the second round. His election comes amid Lebanon's ongoing political and economic crises, as the country seeks international support for reconstruction.
