joseph aoun president lebanon wins election

In a significant development, Joseph Aoun, the former Lebanese army commander, has been elected as the 14th president of Lebanon, marking an end to a two-year presidential vacancy. Aoun secured 99 votes out of 128 in the second round of voting, overcoming a major impasse that had stalled the country's governance for years.

Aoun's rise to power comes at a critical juncture for Lebanon, which has faced years of economic crisis, sectarian division, and a lack of governance. The country has struggled to recover from the devastating 2020 Beirut explosion and the war with Israel in 2023. As president, Aoun has pledged to rebuild the affected areas and strengthen national unity, but the task ahead will be challenging, particularly in addressing the country's longstanding governance crisis, corruption, and the sensitive issue of Hezbollah's weapons arsenal.

Aoun's election also reflects shifts in the power balance in Lebanon and the wider Middle East, with Hezbollah suffering significant setbacks, including the loss of its Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad. The outcome indicates a revival of Saudi influence in Lebanon, where Riyadh's role was previously eclipsed by Iran and Hezbollah. International financial assistance, including from Saudi Arabia, is expected to flow into the country, with the World Bank estimating that the war with Israel cost Lebanon $8.5 billion.

As Aoun begins his term, he will need to navigate the complex sectarian relationships in Lebanon and work towards resolving the country's economic and political crises. The new president's first step will be to convene consultations with lawmakers to nominate a Sunni Muslim prime minister to form a new cabinet, a process that can be protracted but is crucial for reviving government institutions.

Joseph Aoun's election as president of Lebanon marks a new era for the country, with a focus on rebuilding and strengthening national unity. However, the challenges ahead are significant, including addressing the governance crisis, corruption, and the issue of Hezbollah's weapons arsenal. International financial assistance is expected to flow into the country, but Aoun will need to navigate complex sectarian relationships to succeed.