BEIRUT: Lebanon’s parliament elected army chief Joseph Aoun head of state on Thursday, filling the vacant presidency with a general who has US support.

In a speech to the chamber, Aoun, 60, vowed to work to ensure the state has the exclusive right to carry arms, drawing loud applause as lawmakers from the Hezbollah group — which runs its own military forces — sat still.

He promised to rebuild south Lebanon and other parts of the country he said had been destroyed by Israel, and also to prevent Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

The presidency has been vacant since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022, with deeply divided factions unable to agree on a candidate able to win enough votes in the 128-seat parliament.

Joseph Aoun fell short of the 86 votes needed in a first round vote, but crossed the threshold with 99 votes in a second round, after lawmakers from Hezbollah and its ally the Amal Movement backed him.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar congratulated Lebanon, saying on X he hoped Aoun’s election would contribute towards stability and good neighbourly relations.

US ambassador Lisa Johnson, attending the session, told Reuters she was “very happy” with Aoun’s election.

The Saudi king and crown prince congratulated Aoun.

France said the election opened a new page for Lebanon.

“This election must now be followed by the appointment of a strong government” capable of “carrying out the reforms necessary for Lebanon’s economic recovery, stability, security and sovereignty,” French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said.

Opponents of Joseph Aoun’s candidacy said his election was the resultof foreign pressure.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025