Thu Jan 09 16:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Lebanon Elects Military Commander as President After Two-Year Gridlock
**BEIRUT** — After more than two years of political deadlock, Lebanon has finally elected a new president. General Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, secured the presidency Thursday with 99 votes in Parliament, overcoming 12 previous failed attempts. His election is seen as a crucial step towards stabilizing the country, which is grappling with a devastating economic crisis and the aftermath of a recent war with Israel and Hezbollah.
The vote, which took place amidst shouting matches reflecting the country’s fractured political landscape, was met with jubilant celebrations in Beirut, including fireworks and gunfire. General Aoun’s victory speech marked the beginning of “a new phase in Lebanon’s history,” he declared.
Lebanon’s prolonged presidential vacancy followed the October 2022 departure of Michel Aoun. The country’s power-sharing agreement mandates a Maronite Christian president. The protracted stalemate hampered efforts to form a functioning government and address the nation’s mounting problems.
The war with Israel and Hezbollah, currently under a fragile 60-day ceasefire, has inflicted an estimated $8.5 billion in damage and losses according to the World Bank. This, coupled with the ongoing economic collapse, has pushed Lebanon into a deep crisis. International support for Lebanon’s recovery is reportedly contingent on the election of a president.
The election also comes amid shifting regional power dynamics, with a new government taking shape in neighboring Syria following years of civil war. The weakened positions of both the Assad regime and Hezbollah have impacted Lebanon’s political landscape.
First Piper 