Who is Joseph Aoun, the new president of Lebanon?
Last Updated on January 10, 2025 6:13 am
The country’s army chief Joseph Aoun has been elected as the 14th president of Lebanon. He was elected president through a vote in parliament on Thursday.
The country’s highest office had been vacant since October 2022. This ended a two-and-a-half-year stalemate.
It is worth noting that the term of former President Michel Aoun in the Mediterranean coastal country ended in October 2022. Since then, the country’s presidential post has been vacant.
To fill that vacancy, that is, to be elected as the new president, Joseph needed a simple majority, or 86 votes, in the parliamentary vote. Members of parliament were seen expressing their excitement when he received the required number of votes.
Earlier, voting in the 128-seat parliament for the new presidential election took place on Wednesday. However, Joseph failed to receive the required one-third of the votes in the first round of voting.
Joseph received the support of 71 members of parliament in the first round of voting; But he received 15 votes less than the required 86 votes. This led to a second round of voting. In which Joseph won with a record 99 votes.
In addition to 128 representatives of the Lebanese Parliament, ambassadors from various countries were present in the election. Including the ambassadors of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Egypt and China.
Who is Joseph Aoun?
Joseph Aoun, the 14th President of Lebanon, has been serving as the commander of the country’s armed forces since March 8, 2017.
His military career began in 1983 and he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 2013. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of general and appointed commander of the army.
Under his leadership, Lebanon fought against terrorist organizations in the ‘Dawn of the Outskirts’ operation in 2017. He also led the army during the October 17 protests of 2019 and the protracted war with Israel in 2023.
Early life
Joseph Aoun was born on January 10, 1964, in Sin el-Fil, an eastern suburb of the capital Beirut. His family hails from the southern Lebanese city of Al-Aishiyah.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from the Lebanese American University and a bachelor’s degree in military science from the Lebanese Army Military Academy.
Joseph Aoun is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. He is married to Nehmat Nehmeh and has two children.
His election as president ended a two-year presidential vacuum in Lebanon.
The 61-year-old patriot and field fighter has pledged to ensure the independence of the judiciary in Lebanon, fight corruption, and protect the country’s sovereignty.
Source: Al-Mayadeen