Lebanon: New President elected General Joseph Aun – Political defeat for Hezbollah

Rhagdaean are political developments in , as today (09.01.2020) 60-year-old General Joseph Aun, the leader of the Armed Forces, was elected President of the country, resulting in a great political defeat. After 12 failed attempts, Joseph Aun was elected President of Lebanon by parliament, putting an end to the country’s two-year deadlock political deadlock and against the recent bloody conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel. ADVERSION “A new era in Lebanon’s history begins today,” said the newly elected president during his speech before Parliament announcing that the Lebanese state will have the monopoly of arms. “I will work to ensure that his right to carry arms belongs exclusively to the state,” he added. “I promise that everything that Israel destroyed in the south and in the southern districts of Beirut will be rebuilt,” he said, and he also pledged to adhere to the ceasefire agreement with Israel. CORVERSE “We will work to establish best relations with Arab countries,” he said by making a special reference to Syria. “We have a historic opportunity to restore relations with Syria,” he said. Parliamentary and political balances 60-year-old General Joseph Aun is approved by the US and his election reflects changes in power balance in Lebanon and the wider Middle East, with Hezbollah having lost much of its influence, after the devastating war with Israel and the fall of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al Assad REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir Joseph Aun prevailed over Hezbollah’s long preferred candidate, Suleiman Fragier, who retired yesterday Wednesday (08.01.2025) and declared support to the military commander. According to political sources of Lebanon, Hezbollah’s candidate retired after pressure from officials from France, the US and Saudi Arabia. On the basis of Lebanon’s system of distribution of power, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian who must convene consultations with lawmakers to appoint a Sunni Muslim prime minister to form a new cabinet .