Lebanon’s parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president, the first person to fill the position in over two years. Aoun won’t have executive powers but will consult on picking the new prime minister, which could set up the first functioning government since May 2022.
- Lebanon’s president must always be of Maronite Christian faith, part of the system’s design to provide political representation of all major religious groups. Likewise, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament is a Shia Muslim.
Why it matters: While the role of president is mainly ceremonial, Aoun’s election still represents a turning point in Lebanese politics. It’s a sign that Hezbollah — long the country’s most dominant political force — has lost some of its sway.
- Aoun was considered to be the preferred choice for the presidency by the U.S., and was able to win the role after Hezbollah’s preferred candidate bowed out.
- It’s another setback for Hezbollah, which suffered serious losses after recent fighting with Israel, and lost a key ally when Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fell last month.
What’s next: Aoun said he would work to ensure that the state has "the exclusive right to bear arms," which would appear to be a call for the disarmament of Hezbollah.—QH