Lebanon has ended its two-year presidential vacuum with the election of Joseph Aoun, in a development seen as both a final diplomatic victory for the Biden administration and a move towards regional stability.
Aoun, the former head of Lebanon’s national army and a long-time U.S. ally, secured the presidency after failing to achieve the required 86 parliamentary votes in the first round.
Sources indicate that crucial guarantees from the U.S., France, and Saudi Arabia helped secure his election in subsequent voting.
The new president, known for his criticism of Hezbollah, advocates for “beneficial neutrality” and has historically opposed cooperation between the national army and the Shiite organisation’s military wing. French diplomatic intervention reportedly played a decisive role in shifting the political balance in Aoun’s favour.
Aoun faces the immediate challenges of rebuilding Lebanon’s economy and society amid crisis. Both Washington and Paris have pledged support for these reconstruction efforts.
Israeli sources have responded positively to the appointment, with officials close to Prime Minister Netanyahu describing it as “a very positive step”.
The election is viewed as a strategic success for U.S. President Biden’s Middle East diplomacy, potentially facilitating a permanent ceasefire with Israel as the current temporary agreement nears its end in fifteen days.
(with information from protothema.gr)
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