Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the election of a president in Lebanon, more than two years after the last head of state left office.
Joseph Aoun won the second round of voting with 99 MPs in the 128-seat Parliament casting their ballots for him, pushing him over the required two-thirds majority to override the constitutional law that forbids first-grade civil servants from running for president. The now-former commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army gave his acceptance speech, was sworn in and visited the Baabda Palace. He will officially begin his duties as president tomorrow.
To catch up on the highlights from today as well as from the last 12 unsuccessful attempts at electing a president, check out this selection of articles:
👉 The key points from Aoun's acceptance speech
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed confidence in Lebanon's ability to overcome "the repercussions of Israeli aggression" under its new president, Joseph Aoun.
"We are confident that our brothers in Lebanon will overcome the repercussions of Israeli aggression against them, and will find success and prosperity," he said in a statement, referring to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which was halted by a U.S. and France-brokered cease-fire, despite which the Israeli army continues to destroy south Lebanon villages and abduct residents.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit congratulated General Joseph Aoun on his election as president of Lebanon, and for ending "a presidential vacuum that has had a negative impact and complicated the country's crises."
He praised Joseph Aoun, who took over as head of the Lebanese Army in 2017, for his "wisdom in maintaining the country's security and stability, as well as its civil peace."
"Lebanon has today a precious opportunity to open a new chapter that will restore the country's vitality," he added, affirming "the Arab League's commitment to continue its role of support for Lebanon and its people."
Qatar has sent its congratulations to Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, saying in a statement that the Gulf State hopes that his election after more than two years of vacancy will strengthen Lebanon's “security” and “stability,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Qatar welcomes the election of the commander of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun,” the statement said, adding that the wealthy Gulf monarchy hoped the election would "help establish security and stability in Lebanon and realize the aspirations of its people."
Qatar is one of the five members of the Quintet, a group of five nations comprising also of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United States, and France, who were involved in trying to establish a consensus among Lebanese political parties for the election of a president. The Quintet supported Aoun candidacy and its members held severa diplomatic meetings in Beirut in the lead up to the election.
“You can obviously say 'Mabrouk' [congratulations] in Lebanon,” Antoine Hoyek, president of the Farmers' Association, told L'Orient Today. “It's a new stage for the country. It's not just a question of individuals, but of regional influence. I think this election is part of the American strategy to restore peace in the Middle East. As in Syria, even if the circumstances are different, there is a desire to rebuild a new state."
"This could be the starting point for a new era of development and growth. Of course, there are still challenges — confessionalism, corruption, the presence of armed militias — which the new president announced in his speech he would tackle. He will have foreign support and the means to achieve this, but it remains to be seen how to put his plans into practice. All people of good will must rally to his side. We must take advantage of this momentum to build a state. The road is open, even if those who want to prevent the construction of a sovereign state are unlikely to stand idly by.”
The European Union's ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, described the statements made by Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, as “very encouraging.”
In a statement sent to the press, Waele cited in particular “responsibility towards future generations, union between faiths, reforms and the monopoly of arms in the hands of the state,” as notable pledges made by Aoun in his acceptance speech this afternoon.
“We encourage the rapid formation of a government as the next step,” she said. It's the president's responsibility to appoint a prime minister and then with that prime minister form the Cabinet, which, since the end of Michel Aoun's term in October 2022, has been a caretaker government.
“The election of Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic of Lebanon marks a first step on the road to sovereignty and stability, and is part of a new dynamic for the country and the entire region,” said Jack Lang, President of the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA).
“I wish the new Lebanese president every success at this delicate moment in the history of the Middle East," Lang said in a statement sent to the press. "The IMA has always worked to support and promote the culture and history of this sister country. To the Lebanese people, I express my fraternal friendship.”
U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Amos Hochstein told al-Arabiya that Joseph Aoun's election to the Lebanese presidency was a “step towards peace and stability in Lebanon,” according to a report from the state-run National News Agency. Aoun was widely seen as the United States' preferred candidate in the election and supported by the Quintet, a group of five nations comprising Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and France, who were involved in trying to establish a consensus among Lebanese political parties for the election of a president.
France sent its “warm congratulations” on Thursday to Joseph Aoun, elected president of Lebanon after a two-year vacancy at the head of state, at a “historic and crucial moment for the future of Lebanon,” according to a statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This election must now be followed by the appointment of a strong government, in support of the president of the Republic, capable of bringing the Lebanese together and responding to their aspirations and needs,” the statement reads.
Paris also “urgently calls on all Lebanese political leaders and the Lebanese authorities to commit themselves to the sustainable recovery of the country."
“This is very good news for Lebanon, and it's been a long time since we've heard such a purely patriotic speech outlining a work plan to turn the country around,” rejoiced the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Salim Zeenni, contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour.
“As a player in the Lebanese economy and an industrialist, we can only be positive, because everything that players in the Lebanese economy have endured has been mentioned. Listening to him, you get the impression that he has shared this experience and that he speaks from experience. I think we can be optimistic, even if we must remain cautious and wait for the outcome,” he added.
British Ambassador Hamish Cowell welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as a sign of hope for Lebanon after so many challenges. He called for the swift formation of a government committed to advancing much-needed reforms.
“I had the honor of visiting the Lebanese Parliament today to witness the election of President Joseph Aoun. This is a signal of hope for the Lebanese Republic after so many challenges. The next key step under his leadership is the rapid formation of a government committed to advancing much-needed reforms. Britain is ready to support it,” he posted on X.
The U.S. embassy in Lebanon pledges to work “closely” with the new president, according to AFP.
Lebanese flags are raised at the presidential palace. The new head of state greets the senior officials present to welcome him. Members of his family wait for him on the steps.
Paris congratulates the new Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and hopes for a “strong government,” according to the French Foreign Ministry, quoted by AFP.
⚡ President Joseph Aoun has just arrived at Baabda Palace.
Nicolas Bou Khater, President of the Association of Lebanese Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (RDCL), told L'Orient-Le Jour that Joseph Aoun's election to the Lebanese presidency “marks a decisive turning point in Lebanon's contemporary history” and embodies a “new page of hope” for the country.
“His vision, centered on structural reform, independence of the judiciary, administrative decentralization, the fight against corruption, control and demarcation of borders, openness towards Arab countries and the restoration of national sovereignty, offers an unprecedented opportunity to restore trust between resident and non-resident citizens, the legal private sector and their institutions,” said the business leader. “This is a moment of responsibility and action, when all Lebanese are called upon to unite around this common project: To restore our country's dignity, sovereignty, prosperity and historic role,” he added.
At Baabda Palace
Journalists and employees prepare in front of the entrance, awaiting the arrival of the new president, according to our local reporter Zeina Antonios.
He took the road to Baabda Palace in the car of the Lebanese presidency.
After receiving the congratulations of the MPs and diplomats present in Parliament, President Joseph Aoun is now leaving Parliament.
Lebanese Forces MP Geoges Adwan: “There's no doubt that the new president wants to open a new page in the country with a clear speech and clear positions. He is committed to a strong state that will extend its sovereignty over the entire territory, and to a monopoly on arms. The LF has seen in this speech everything it stands for, and we support this program and call on everyone to do so, Hezbollah included.”
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has congratulated Joseph Aoun on his election as President of the Republic of Lebanon. She hailed the election of a president as a long-awaited first step towards overcoming Lebanon's political and institutional vacuum and providing the Lebanese people with the functional state institutions they deserve.
“A prime minister must be appointed and a government formed without delay. The tasks facing the Lebanese state are too monumental to waste time,” the special coordinator stressed in a statement, adding, ”The time has come for every decision-maker to place Lebanon's interests above any personal or political considerations.”
“The election of a president offers renewed hope and an opportunity to pave the way for progress in consolidating the cessation of hostilities and preserving the country's security and stability, including by strengthening State authority throughout Lebanon and advancing comprehensive and sustainable reforms,” the statement continued.
“The United Nations looks forward to working with President Aoun and the relevant authorities,” it concludes.
On the announcement of the victory of the 14th President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, the jubilant population took to the streets in the regions of Brital, Taybe and Hawr Taala, east of Baalbeck, dancing, singing, improvising dabkes and setting off firecrackers, according to our correspondent in the region, Sarah Abdallah.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed hope on Thursday that the election of Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, will contribute to the country's “stability” and “good relations between neighbors.”
“I congratulate Lebanon on the election of a new president after a long political crisis. I hope this choice will contribute to stability, a better future for Lebanon and its people, and good relations between neighbors,” he wrote on the X social network.
Iran has welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun to the Lebanese presidency, hoping that the two countries will cooperate to serve their “common interests,” according to a message from the Iranian embassy in Lebanon published on the X social network.
“We congratulate brotherly Lebanon on the election of General Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic [and] look forward ... to cooperating in various fields in a way that serves the common interests of our countries,” the Iranian mission in Beirut said.
(Credit: Mountasser Abdallah)
Jubilant scenes were witnessed in the home village of Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun, the village of Aishiyeh in Jezzine. As soon as Joseph Aoun reached the required 86 votes, the villagers began to celebrate, according to our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah. To the sound of fireworks, the villagers offered sweets and danced the dabke in the village square, with women ululating. Church bells rang and a ceremonial mass was celebrated.
Village council president Jean Afif had begun preparations the day before, and the village streets had been decorated since Thursday morning.
Hezbollah parliamentary group leader Mohammad Raad: “By delaying our vote, we wanted to say that, just as we have been the protectors of our country's sovereignty, we are the protectors of national understanding. We are also against all foreign interference, having shed our blood for this country.”
The Shiite party voted blank in the first round.
The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, was less than enthusiastic about Joseph Aoun's election to the Lebanese presidency, his party having remained opposed to his candidacy to the very end.
“They told us: don't stay alone. We replied: we remain alone, free to make our own decisions. No threat will intimidate us, no temptation will seduce us. We are the guardians of sovereignty and the Constitution, and we remain a free and patriotic current. It's not easy to be truly sovereign, but life is a moment of dignity!” wrote the son-in-law of former president and FPM founder Michel Aoun.
Eurobonds — dollar-denominated Lebanese debt securities — averaged 15.75 cents to the dollar in the hour following Joseph Aoun's election, 1.25 points higher than the previous day's close of 14.50 cents to the dollar, according to market data provided by Bank Audi's research department. Today's session closes at 5 p.m. The securities are only traded between their holders, since the Lebanese state defaulted on their repayment in March 2020 and has still not restructured its debt.
For his part, the caretaker Labor Minister Moustapha Bayram, who is close to the Shiite tandem, said of the speech: “It looks like a good new step.”
After Joseph Aoun was sworn in, MP Halima Kaakour hailed the speech as “good and promising.” However, she said she had no regrets about her blank vote. “We'll be keeping an eye on him in any case.”
After a round of applause, Nabih Berri adjourned the meeting.
Joseph Aoun, addressing the Lebanese: "There are many reforms to come, and I will work with everyone to protect the rights of the Lebanese, and we will show everyone that failure has no place in Lebanon. No community will be privileged over another, and no Lebanese will be privileged over another."
Joseph Aoun: "I will protect the environment and freedoms, and invest in education, especially public education.
My mandate is yours, dear deputies, and that of all Lebanese who want a strong state. We have no time to lose. Our duty is to be statesmen and women who think of the future of our young generations, of the public interest and not private interests. I will not disappoint you."
Joseph Aoun: "I will be uncompromising about depositors' money. Under my mandate, banks will be subject to the law, with professional secrecy as their only safeguard."
Joseph Aoun: "I want to develop the electoral law to respect the rotation of power and ensure better representation, while enshrining the diaspora's right to vote. I intend to work with the government on a modern electoral law and on decentralization."
Joseph Aoun: "My mandate will be one of openness to the East and West, to the international community, based on mutual respect, Lebanon's sovereignty and the country's freedom to make its own decisions."
Joseph Aoun: "In view of the regional changes, we have a historic opportunity to discuss with Syria how to resolve all the issues, in particular respect for the sovereignty of both countries and the issue of the missing, as well as dealing rationally with the issue of refugees."
Joseph Aoun: "We will not negotiate the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon. Nor do we forget our martyrs and prisoners. Our differences are a strength and an asset, and it's high time we put our faith in Lebanon, not in our quarrels. During my mandate, I will work to establish the best relations with Arab countries, we will practice positive neutrality and we will export only the best of Lebanon to these countries."
Joseph Aoun: "I promise to rebuild what the Israeli aggression destroyed all over Lebanon. "
Joseph Aoun: "I will work to revitalize the role of the security forces. I will be the first to defend the national pact, and I will carry out my mandate with fairness and justice. I will discuss a defense strategy for the Lebanese state to fight against the Israeli invasion. And I do mean the Lebanese state."
Joseph Aoun: "I will work to ensure compliance with international conventions."
Joseph Aoun: "We're going through a crisis of power, a crisis of understanding of democracy, a crisis of power and leaders. I pledge to the Lebanese people that I will work to restore Lebanon's image abroad, and to fight poverty and unemployment. The authorities will have a monopoly on arms. The State must invest in its army, to be able to protect its borders, fight smuggling and terrorism, and prevent Israeli aggression on its territory."
Once again, a round of applause followed the president-elect's statement on weapons.
Joseph Aoun: "I'll be launching my consultations to form a government as soon as possible. With Parliament and the government, we're going to straighten out the administration to restore the prestige of the State and set up a modern, efficient administration."
Joseph Aoun: "I promise to appeal against all unconstitutional laws, so that Parliament can revise them."
Joseph Aoun: "We need equality between all citizens, because to have a state you need equality in the eyes of the law. This means an end to mafias, drug trafficking and interference in the justice system to protect criminals. Justice is the only protection for all citizens."
Referring to the importance of judicial independence, Joseph Aoun was applauded by the deputies.
Joseph Aoun: “I say to the Lebanese people everywhere: We are entering a new era for Lebanon. I take an oath to preserve this nation and pledge to fully assume my presidential responsibilities and protect freedoms."
Joseph Aoun: “We need to change our political vision, in terms of protecting our borders, our economic policies and our conception of the State and development, and our environmental policies.”
“It's the most important decoration I've ever received. Despite the wars, the [Israeli] aggression, because our identity is Lebanese in diversity, and we are attached to our country, our quality is courage and despite our differences, we support each other,” continues the president-elect.
“It's the most important decoration I've ever received. Despite the wars, the [Israeli] aggression, because our identity is Lebanese in diversity, and we are attached to our country, our quality is courage and despite our differences, we support each other,” continues the president-elect.
“I am the first president of Lebanon's second centenary, at a time of great upheaval in the Middle East,” said Joseph Aoun as he took the oath of office.
The head of parliament interrupts the start of the swearing-in ceremony to congratulate the new president.
The president-elect was greeted by applause from the deputies.
President-elect Joseph Aoun entered the hemicycle to take the oath of office before MPs, the caretaker Cabinet and foreign diplomats.
Prior to his entrance, the national anthem was played as he reviewed the troops forming a guard of honor around him.
(Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
“A la hauteur, et bien plus,” reads this sign bearing the effigy of Joseph Aoun, on the side of the freeway leading to Hazmieh.
(Credit: Matthieu Karam)
The presidential convoy on the Hazmieh highway, on its way to Parliament in downtown Beirut, Jan. 9, 2025 after the election of Joseph Aoun.
⚡Army commander-in-chief Joseph Aoun elected Lebanese president with 99 votes.
The second round of voting comes to an end. All 128 deputies have placed their ballots in the ballot box, after the ballots have been counted. Counting begins.
Voting resumes in the hemicycle, and MPs are called by name to place their ballot papers in the ballot box.
The Parliament Speaker enters the hemicycle. The second round begins.
The photo of MP Mark Daou's first-round ballot paper, published by the parliamentarian on X in the middle of the election session, has caused a stir on the web. The photographed ballot shows the name of General Joseph Aoun.
“Voting must be secret and it is forbidden to present proof of voting,” remarked jurist Nizar Saghiyeh on X. “If we allow such contraventions to pass, we are hindering the secrecy of the elections and facilitating interference,” he added.
The bell rings in Parliament for the resumption of the presidential election session.
The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary group, Mohammad Raad, and Amal deputy Ali Hassan Khalil met with the army's commander-in-chief during the recess for consultations, according to media reports. They are currently reporting the results of their meeting to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
According to MP Georges Bouchikian, the talks were successful and Commander-in-Chief Joseph Aoun is expected to be elected today.
Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with French envoy Jean-Yves le Drian during the break for consultations, according to LBCI.
The deputies return to the hemicycle after a break of almost two hours, according to our reporter on site.
“Talks are underway between Hezbollah and those involved in the presidential election, in particular the army's commander-in-chief, Joseph Aoun," who is expected to win the election, a source close to the Shiite party told our local reporter Salah Hijazi.
“We're not happy with the way the commander-in-chief of the army has been imposed. On the other hand, we won't remain outside the consensus as long as he calls for the Lebanese components not to be annulled or sidelined,” adds this source.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism that a president would be elected today. “In the second round, a president will be elected with a parliamentary majority,” he assured the Al-Arabiya television channel, an interview picked up by the National News Agency (NNA).
Simon Abi Ramia, MP for Jbeil, said that he voted for Joseph Aoun, according to our journalist in Parliament.
Testimony from south Lebanon
Yola al-Hajj works in Mieh Mieh, south of Saida:
“I'm not very enthusiastic about today's parliamentary session, because what's going to happen is not a Lebanese decision. The MPs will be elected according to [foreign] instructions, they will work according to the will of the Americans, France and others. The situation in the country may improve after the election of a president, but that will only be after the international community gets what it wants from Lebanon.”
MPs Jamil Sayed (Baalbeck-Hermel) and Jihad Samad (Denniyeh) voted blank, according to a parliamentary source quoted by our journalist Salah Hijazi.
MPs Melhem Khalaf (Beirut II) and Oussama Saad (Saida) are said to be behind the two ballot papers bearing the name of jurist Shebli Mallat, according to information from our journalist at Parliament, Salah Hijazi.
As a reminder, Khalaf began a parliamentary sit-in on Jan. 19, 2023, following the failure of one of the many parliamentary sessions devoted to the presidential election. Since then, he has only left Parliament on rare occasions.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Rita Sassine and Anthony Samrani's on-the-spot analysis of the first-round results:
The main lesson of the session is that the Shiite tandem Amal/Hezbollah, who probably voted blank, were not ready to consecrate the election of the leader of the troops in the first round.
In October 2016, former president Michel Aoun obtained only 84 votes in the first round, when he needed 86. The second round was a mess. The deputies had to vote three times. On the first two occasions, 128 ballots were cast, although 127 deputies were present in the hemicycle.
MP Kassem Hachem, close to the Amal movement, promised the press, in Parliament after Nabih Berri suspended the session, “surprises” in the second round.
The frontrunner, Army Commander Joseph Aoun, topped the votes with 71 out of 128. However, this is less than the 86 votes needed for a candidate to be elected in the first round and which he will still need — as a first-category civil servant — to potentially be elected in the following round.
Read our quick wrap-up and analysis of the first round here.
Berri announced a two-hour break for consultations before the second round. Some MPs object to this decision and call for an immediate second round.
🔴 The first-round count shows 71 votes for army commander-in-chief Joseph Aoun, 37 blank votes, 14 votes for Sovereignty and the Constitution, 2 votes for former candidate Shebli Mallat and 4 cancelled votes.
A heated discussion punctuated by insults between independent MP Paula Yacoubian and FPM representative Salim Aoun, after the MP accused the political class of not wanting Joseph Aoun for president.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri calmed things down.
“Every time I talk politics, I'm met with insults,” reacts Yacoubian, as Salim Aoun continues his invective.
Firas Hamdan, independent MP for Hasbaya, also took the floor and accused the political class of being “behind the violation of the Constitution” that would constitute an election of Joseph Aoun, Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, without amending the Fundamental Law.
Michel Daher, MP for Zahle, recalls the failures of the State and the current political class. “We want to build a state, provide the population with electricity and return their confiscated money. My choice has always been Joseph Aoun, and I have not been pressured to give him my vote."
MP Yassine Yassine, a member of the popular protest movement: “The current political class has been unable to provide stability for the population. These are the priorities for the next stage.”
Elias Baissari, the acting director general of General Security, whose name had been circulating among the presidential candidates, called in a press release for his name to be “withdrawn” from the race, while welcoming the “agreement” on Joseph Aoun's candidacy.
Michel Moawad, former presidential candidate from the Hezbollah opposition: “Today we must turn the page after two years and two months of presidential vacuum and war. We don't want just any president, but a unifying one. We want to build Lebanon together, with Arab and international support. Otherwise, we won't be able to get the country out of its rut. I call on the Shiite tandem to complete this meeting for the election of a president.”
In south Lebanon
Preparations are currently underway in the village of Aashiyeh, Joseph Aoun's home village in the district of Jezzine, for the announcement of the army commander-in-chief's election to the presidency, according to the National News Agency (NNA). Photos of the commander and Lebanese flags were hoisted and “sheep were prepared to be slaughtered as soon as he is announced as president,” the agency reports.
Adib Abdel Massih, independent MP for Koura, said that while the Constitution must be respected, it was necessary to agree today to elect a president.
Waddah Sadek, MP for Beirut, felt that “Parliament is faced with a difficult decision." “But the situation is 10 times worse than in 2008, when Parliament decided to override the Constitution to elect Michel Sleiman,” he added.
Blank ballot papers, on which deputies will note the name of their candidate, are distributed to deputies. Nabih Berri reminds them that candidates' names must be noted “clearly” on the ballot paper
MP Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb party, recalled the precedent set by parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri in the 2008 elections. We are in a country under Israeli occupation, which has lost its sovereignty,” he said, referring to "Syrian tutelage and that which followed. Worse today than the violation of the Constitution is its discretionary violation,” he added.
“We are turning a page in 55 years of conflict between the Lebanese. We hope that history will turn a new page. I am addressing my colleagues from Hezbollah and Amal. We don't want the Lebanese to go through what we went through, with tears, revenge and accusations of treachery. We want all Lebanese to live together, in respect, in partnership, in recognition of each other and their sacrifices, and in respect for the Constitution,” he added.
Nabih Berri reminds us that candidates' names must be noted “clearly” on the ballot paper. At least two deputies, including Paula Yacoubian, asked about the Arabic spelling of Joseph Aoun's name.
The voting process begins, with MPs entering their candidate's name. Some stand up, quickly invited to return to their seats. The atmosphere is neutral.
One after the other, MPs are called upon to deposit their ballot papers in the ballot box set up in the middle of the hemicycle.
All 128 MPs are present in the hemicycle, two minutes before the start of the session.
The parliamentary session to elect a new president has begun, announced the head of parliament, Nabih Berri. He confirmed that no deputy was absent.
Before the start of voting, MP Melhem Khalaf intervened, warning against a violation of the Constitution, calling for the establishment of the rule of law and respect for the Constitution.
The head of the FPM, Gebran Bassil, also intervened: “We are witnessing a return to the era of consuls and the appointment of a head of state from outside,” he denounced.
“The Head of State is the only one who swears to respect the Constitution. It is unthinkable that he should be elected thanks to a violation of the Constitution,” added Gebran Bassil.
Jamil Sayed, MP close to the Shiite tandem: “This is not an election session, but a session to ratify the appointment of a president.”
MP Oussama Saad, head of the Nasserite Popular Organization, also denounced outside interference. “Stop this massacre of the Constitution,” he asked the Parliament Speaker.
Testimonial from south Lebanon
Zainab Salameh is 60 and a teacher in Sour.
“I'm not really going to follow the parliamentary session. I have a job and my job is more important than wasting time following a session that is imposed on the Lebanese and whose results are known. In my entourage, the electoral process doesn't arouse much interest either. The only phrase people repeat is 'They want to impose Joseph Aoun as president on the Lebanese.' As far as I'm concerned, with or without a president, we can't establish a state, it's all the same. I'm not optimistic about a president who would be imposed on us and whose election would not be a conviction shared 100 percent by all Lebanese,” she said.
How many votes does a candidate need to be elected president?
In the first round, two-thirds of the votes, or 86 out of 128 deputies, are required for a candidate to be elected. In the second and subsequent rounds, this total drops to half plus one, or 65. It is for this reason that, in previous sessions, the Shiite Amal-Hezbollah tandem blocked any possible second round, by withdrawing from the hemicycle and bringing the quorum below 86 participants, while some opposition MPs criticized Nabih Berri's reading that each session would resume with a first round.
Who are the main candidates?
The name that has been on everyone's lips for the past few days, and which enjoys the support of the international community, is that of the army's Commander-in-Chief, General Joseph Aoun. General Aoun, like other presidential candidates whose names are circulating, has not officially declared his candidacy. These other figures include former minister Jihad Azour, around whom the opposition to Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) rallied during the June 2023 session, Elias Baissari, acting director of General Security, and MP Ibrahim Kanaan, a former FPM member.
All these candidates, whether declared or not, are Maronites. Indeed, although the Constitution does not state that the supreme magistracy is reserved for a religious group, it was on the basis of a consensus established between the country's different forces in 1943, at the time of independence, that Lebanon's main communities shared out the three presidencies. Since then, the presidency has been held by a Maronite Christian, that of the Government by a Sunni Muslim and that of the House by a Shiite Muslim.
Can Joseph Aoun be elected without amending the Constitution?
In the last few hours, internal and international momentum has built up in support of Joseph Aoun's candidacy. A question remains, however, about the eligibility of the general, who as Commander-in-Chief of the army is a first-class civil servant. Indeed, according to article 49 of the Constitution, judges and first category civil servants cannot be elected to the head of state either during their term of office or within two years of their resignation from their position. But, as usual in Lebanon, this article has never been respected to the letter.
For some constitutionalists, obtaining the votes of 86 deputies (i.e. two-thirds of the 128 parliamentarians) could be assimilated to an implicit green light for amending the Constitution (which requires the same threshold of votes), notably in the case of an agreement around the election of a first-class civil servant.
If a president is elected, what major challenges will he or she face?
After more than two years of presidential vacancy, the Republic, or at least many of its institutions, are run on an interim basis. A president is needed to approve the appointments of key civil servants, such as the Governor of the Banque du Liban or the Director of General Security. A new government will also have to be formed, as Najib Mikati's outgoing cabinet has been in charge of current affairs since May 2022. The future head of state will also inherit a country devastated by an economic and financial crisis, in which major infrastructure reforms will be necessary to obtain aid from the international community and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The next major deadline is the end of the cease-fire with Israel on Jan. 27, while the Israeli army remains mobilized in southern Lebanon, continuing to destroy villages and kidnap inhabitants.
Lastly, the future president will be expected to address diplomatic issues such as the need to re-establish relations between Lebanon and Syria virtually from scratch, one month after the fall of the Assad regime.
At Parliament
42 MPs have already arrived at Parliament, according to an LBCI tally.
On the Parliamentary session
At 10:20 a.m., 74 Lebanese MPs arrived at the Lebanese Parliament.
Outside Parliament, Jihad Pakradounian, an independent MP who had run on a list supported by the Lebanese Forces, tells our journalist Salah Hijazi:
“From the start, our candidate was Joseph Aoun. On two occasions, we fought to keep him at the head of the army.”
The Saudi ambassador in Beirut, Walid Boukhari, arrived at the Lebanese Parliament to follow the election session.
In front of Parliament, Adnan Traboulsi, MP for Beirut, told L'Orient Today that “the Sunnis have decided to support Joseph Aoun because there is a consensus.”
MP Oussama Saad, leader of the Nasserite Popular Organization (Saida), told our local journalist Salah Hijazi that he would not be voting blank, but “would not be siding with those who violate the Constitution” by voting for Joseph Aoun.
Testimonial
In the Bekaa, our correspondent Sarah Abdallah takes the pulse of the street: How do the inhabitants feel on this election day?
For Walaa Abdullah, who teaches French at secondary school:
“The presidential vacuum and the economic and security crises have taught us that we need a strong, sovereign president. He will be able to restore the face of Lebanon, soiled by some, and he will turn the country, with the help of a people proud of their nation, into an institutional state with laws and justice. We hope that the election of the new president will be a step towards the desired change for this country that we love so much, that we would like to see prosper at all levels.”
By 10:45 a.m., 107 MPs had already arrived at Parliament House in downtown Beirut.
Also present at the Chamber are French ambassador Hervé Magro, US ambassador Lisa Johnson and French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived at Parliament.
In Parliament, independent MP Halima Kaakour told our journalist Salah Hijazi that she would be voting blank. “I will never violate the Constitution,” she said.
Testimonial
For Charles, a resident of Achrafieh who did not wish to give his surname, what is currently happening in Parliament is a “play.” He doubts that the election of a president can “save the country.” “Every party's objective is to serve its own supporters. With this mentality, the country's worn-out situation won't change,” he told our local journalist Malek Jadah.
Another testimonial comes to us from the Bekaa, via our correspondent Sarah Abdallah:
Rabih Kassem, 40 years old and also a secondary school mathematics teacher:
“On the question of whether things can change if a president of the republic is elected, yes it's possible that there will be change. Especially as he [Joseph Aoun] is far removed from clientelism. We also hope that there will be a Prime Minister who resembles him, and that together they can fight corruption, have laws and above all justice in the country, respected by politicians.”
In front of Parliament
FPM leader MP Gebran Bassil, son-in-law of former head of state Michel Aoun, has just arrived at Place de l'Étoile.
For her part, independent MP Paula Yacoubian tells our journalist Salah Hijazi of her fears of an attempt to sabotage the parliamentary session for the election of a president, when 109 MPs are already in the hemicycle, 5 minutes before the start of the session.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Inside the Parliament building:
French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian reaches the diplomatic galleries shortly before the start of the session.
Welcome to our live coverage of Lebanon's presidential election day.
At 11 a.m., Lebanon's 128 deputies are summoned to Parliament to choose the future president and potentially end a two-year, two-month and nine-day presidential vacancy.
Before the session begins, what do you need to know to understand what's going to happen at the Lebanese Parliament?
Here are a few keys.
How long has Lebanon been without a president?
On Oct. 31, 2022, Michel Aoun completed his term of office. The presidential election period had begun two months earlier, according to the constitutional deadline, on Sept. 1, 2022. Michel Aoun had been elected six years earlier, after two years, five months and seven days of vacancy.
This presidential vacuum has therefore lasted since Aoun's term of office ended, two years, two months and nine days.
Why the delay?
This delay, which is not unusual for electing a president in an extremely divided Lebanon, is explained by the lack of consensus between the political forces, which is essential, as no party has a clear majority in Parliament.
The 14 months of clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, including the eight weeks of open warfare from late September to late November, have further delayed the deadline. Indeed, the last electoral session, the 12th since November 2022, was held on June 14, 2023, a few weeks before Oct. 7, 2023. After this date, Nabih Berri had repeatedly stated that he would wait for a cease-fire before calling a new election, which he did on Nov. 28, 2024, a few hours after the truce agreement came into force. Each session called by Berri in 2022 and 2023 ended in a lack of quorum, as deputies from Hezbollah and its allies withdrew from the chamber after the first round.
The ballot box, Jan. 8, 2025. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
Voting procedure
After noting the name of their candidate on a ballot paper, placed in a small envelope, each deputy is called by name to come and slip it into a ballot box. Nabih Berri and the officers then count the ballots, announcing the candidate's name as each envelope is opened and counting the votes.
Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the election of a president in Lebanon, more than two years after the last head of state left office.
Joseph Aoun won the second round of voting with 99 MPs in the 128-seat Parliament casting their ballots for him, pushing him over the required two-thirds majority to override the constitutional law that forbids first-grade civil servants from running for president. The now-former commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army gave his acceptance speech, was sworn in and visited the Baabda Palace. He will officially begin his duties as president tomorrow.
To catch up on the highlights from today as well as from the last 12 unsuccessful attempts at electing a president, check out this selection of articles:
👉 The key points from Aoun's acceptance speech
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed confidence in Lebanon's ability to overcome "the repercussions of Israeli aggression" under its new president, Joseph Aoun.
"We are confident that our brothers in Lebanon will overcome the repercussions of Israeli aggression against them, and will find success and prosperity," he said in a statement, referring to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which was halted by a U.S. and France-brokered cease-fire, despite which the Israeli army continues to destroy south Lebanon villages and abduct residents.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit congratulated General Joseph Aoun on his election as president of Lebanon, and for ending "a presidential vacuum that has had a negative impact and complicated the country's crises."
He praised Joseph Aoun, who took over as head of the Lebanese Army in 2017, for his "wisdom in maintaining the country's security and stability, as well as its civil peace."
"Lebanon has today a precious opportunity to open a new chapter that will restore the country's vitality," he added, affirming "the Arab League's commitment to continue its role of support for Lebanon and its people."
Qatar has sent its congratulations to Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, saying in a statement that the Gulf State hopes that his election after more than two years of vacancy will strengthen Lebanon's “security” and “stability,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Qatar welcomes the election of the commander of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun,” the statement said, adding that the wealthy Gulf monarchy hoped the election would "help establish security and stability in Lebanon and realize the aspirations of its people."
Qatar is one of the five members of the Quintet, a group of five nations comprising also of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United States, and France, who were involved in trying to establish a consensus among Lebanese political parties for the election of a president. The Quintet supported Aoun candidacy and its members held severa diplomatic meetings in Beirut in the lead up to the election.
“You can obviously say 'Mabrouk' [congratulations] in Lebanon,” Antoine Hoyek, president of the Farmers' Association, told L'Orient Today. “It's a new stage for the country. It's not just a question of individuals, but of regional influence. I think this election is part of the American strategy to restore peace in the Middle East. As in Syria, even if the circumstances are different, there is a desire to rebuild a new state."
"This could be the starting point for a new era of development and growth. Of course, there are still challenges — confessionalism, corruption, the presence of armed militias — which the new president announced in his speech he would tackle. He will have foreign support and the means to achieve this, but it remains to be seen how to put his plans into practice. All people of good will must rally to his side. We must take advantage of this momentum to build a state. The road is open, even if those who want to prevent the construction of a sovereign state are unlikely to stand idly by.”
The European Union's ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, described the statements made by Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, as “very encouraging.”
In a statement sent to the press, Waele cited in particular “responsibility towards future generations, union between faiths, reforms and the monopoly of arms in the hands of the state,” as notable pledges made by Aoun in his acceptance speech this afternoon.
“We encourage the rapid formation of a government as the next step,” she said. It's the president's responsibility to appoint a prime minister and then with that prime minister form the Cabinet, which, since the end of Michel Aoun's term in October 2022, has been a caretaker government.
“The election of Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic of Lebanon marks a first step on the road to sovereignty and stability, and is part of a new dynamic for the country and the entire region,” said Jack Lang, President of the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA).
“I wish the new Lebanese president every success at this delicate moment in the history of the Middle East," Lang said in a statement sent to the press. "The IMA has always worked to support and promote the culture and history of this sister country. To the Lebanese people, I express my fraternal friendship.”
U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Amos Hochstein told al-Arabiya that Joseph Aoun's election to the Lebanese presidency was a “step towards peace and stability in Lebanon,” according to a report from the state-run National News Agency. Aoun was widely seen as the United States' preferred candidate in the election and supported by the Quintet, a group of five nations comprising Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and France, who were involved in trying to establish a consensus among Lebanese political parties for the election of a president.
France sent its “warm congratulations” on Thursday to Joseph Aoun, elected president of Lebanon after a two-year vacancy at the head of state, at a “historic and crucial moment for the future of Lebanon,” according to a statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This election must now be followed by the appointment of a strong government, in support of the president of the Republic, capable of bringing the Lebanese together and responding to their aspirations and needs,” the statement reads.
Paris also “urgently calls on all Lebanese political leaders and the Lebanese authorities to commit themselves to the sustainable recovery of the country."
“This is very good news for Lebanon, and it's been a long time since we've heard such a purely patriotic speech outlining a work plan to turn the country around,” rejoiced the president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, Salim Zeenni, contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour.
“As a player in the Lebanese economy and an industrialist, we can only be positive, because everything that players in the Lebanese economy have endured has been mentioned. Listening to him, you get the impression that he has shared this experience and that he speaks from experience. I think we can be optimistic, even if we must remain cautious and wait for the outcome,” he added.
British Ambassador Hamish Cowell welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as a sign of hope for Lebanon after so many challenges. He called for the swift formation of a government committed to advancing much-needed reforms.
“I had the honor of visiting the Lebanese Parliament today to witness the election of President Joseph Aoun. This is a signal of hope for the Lebanese Republic after so many challenges. The next key step under his leadership is the rapid formation of a government committed to advancing much-needed reforms. Britain is ready to support it,” he posted on X.
The U.S. embassy in Lebanon pledges to work “closely” with the new president, according to AFP.
Lebanese flags are raised at the presidential palace. The new head of state greets the senior officials present to welcome him. Members of his family wait for him on the steps.
Paris congratulates the new Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and hopes for a “strong government,” according to the French Foreign Ministry, quoted by AFP.
⚡ President Joseph Aoun has just arrived at Baabda Palace.
Nicolas Bou Khater, President of the Association of Lebanese Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (RDCL), told L'Orient-Le Jour that Joseph Aoun's election to the Lebanese presidency “marks a decisive turning point in Lebanon's contemporary history” and embodies a “new page of hope” for the country.
“His vision, centered on structural reform, independence of the judiciary, administrative decentralization, the fight against corruption, control and demarcation of borders, openness towards Arab countries and the restoration of national sovereignty, offers an unprecedented opportunity to restore trust between resident and non-resident citizens, the legal private sector and their institutions,” said the business leader. “This is a moment of responsibility and action, when all Lebanese are called upon to unite around this common project: To restore our country's dignity, sovereignty, prosperity and historic role,” he added.
At Baabda Palace
Journalists and employees prepare in front of the entrance, awaiting the arrival of the new president, according to our local reporter Zeina Antonios.
He took the road to Baabda Palace in the car of the Lebanese presidency.
After receiving the congratulations of the MPs and diplomats present in Parliament, President Joseph Aoun is now leaving Parliament.
Lebanese Forces MP Geoges Adwan: “There's no doubt that the new president wants to open a new page in the country with a clear speech and clear positions. He is committed to a strong state that will extend its sovereignty over the entire territory, and to a monopoly on arms. The LF has seen in this speech everything it stands for, and we support this program and call on everyone to do so, Hezbollah included.”
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has congratulated Joseph Aoun on his election as President of the Republic of Lebanon. She hailed the election of a president as a long-awaited first step towards overcoming Lebanon's political and institutional vacuum and providing the Lebanese people with the functional state institutions they deserve.
“A prime minister must be appointed and a government formed without delay. The tasks facing the Lebanese state are too monumental to waste time,” the special coordinator stressed in a statement, adding, ”The time has come for every decision-maker to place Lebanon's interests above any personal or political considerations.”
“The election of a president offers renewed hope and an opportunity to pave the way for progress in consolidating the cessation of hostilities and preserving the country's security and stability, including by strengthening State authority throughout Lebanon and advancing comprehensive and sustainable reforms,” the statement continued.
“The United Nations looks forward to working with President Aoun and the relevant authorities,” it concludes.
On the announcement of the victory of the 14th President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, the jubilant population took to the streets in the regions of Brital, Taybe and Hawr Taala, east of Baalbeck, dancing, singing, improvising dabkes and setting off firecrackers, according to our correspondent in the region, Sarah Abdallah.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed hope on Thursday that the election of Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, will contribute to the country's “stability” and “good relations between neighbors.”
“I congratulate Lebanon on the election of a new president after a long political crisis. I hope this choice will contribute to stability, a better future for Lebanon and its people, and good relations between neighbors,” he wrote on the X social network.
Iran has welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun to the Lebanese presidency, hoping that the two countries will cooperate to serve their “common interests,” according to a message from the Iranian embassy in Lebanon published on the X social network.
“We congratulate brotherly Lebanon on the election of General Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic [and] look forward ... to cooperating in various fields in a way that serves the common interests of our countries,” the Iranian mission in Beirut said.
(Credit: Mountasser Abdallah)
Jubilant scenes were witnessed in the home village of Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun, the village of Aishiyeh in Jezzine. As soon as Joseph Aoun reached the required 86 votes, the villagers began to celebrate, according to our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah. To the sound of fireworks, the villagers offered sweets and danced the dabke in the village square, with women ululating. Church bells rang and a ceremonial mass was celebrated.
Village council president Jean Afif had begun preparations the day before, and the village streets had been decorated since Thursday morning.
Hezbollah parliamentary group leader Mohammad Raad: “By delaying our vote, we wanted to say that, just as we have been the protectors of our country's sovereignty, we are the protectors of national understanding. We are also against all foreign interference, having shed our blood for this country.”
The Shiite party voted blank in the first round.
The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, was less than enthusiastic about Joseph Aoun's election to the Lebanese presidency, his party having remained opposed to his candidacy to the very end.
“They told us: don't stay alone. We replied: we remain alone, free to make our own decisions. No threat will intimidate us, no temptation will seduce us. We are the guardians of sovereignty and the Constitution, and we remain a free and patriotic current. It's not easy to be truly sovereign, but life is a moment of dignity!” wrote the son-in-law of former president and FPM founder Michel Aoun.
Eurobonds — dollar-denominated Lebanese debt securities — averaged 15.75 cents to the dollar in the hour following Joseph Aoun's election, 1.25 points higher than the previous day's close of 14.50 cents to the dollar, according to market data provided by Bank Audi's research department. Today's session closes at 5 p.m. The securities are only traded between their holders, since the Lebanese state defaulted on their repayment in March 2020 and has still not restructured its debt.
For his part, the caretaker Labor Minister Moustapha Bayram, who is close to the Shiite tandem, said of the speech: “It looks like a good new step.”
After Joseph Aoun was sworn in, MP Halima Kaakour hailed the speech as “good and promising.” However, she said she had no regrets about her blank vote. “We'll be keeping an eye on him in any case.”
After a round of applause, Nabih Berri adjourned the meeting.
Joseph Aoun, addressing the Lebanese: "There are many reforms to come, and I will work with everyone to protect the rights of the Lebanese, and we will show everyone that failure has no place in Lebanon. No community will be privileged over another, and no Lebanese will be privileged over another."
Joseph Aoun: "I will protect the environment and freedoms, and invest in education, especially public education.
My mandate is yours, dear deputies, and that of all Lebanese who want a strong state. We have no time to lose. Our duty is to be statesmen and women who think of the future of our young generations, of the public interest and not private interests. I will not disappoint you."
Joseph Aoun: "I will be uncompromising about depositors' money. Under my mandate, banks will be subject to the law, with professional secrecy as their only safeguard."
Joseph Aoun: "I want to develop the electoral law to respect the rotation of power and ensure better representation, while enshrining the diaspora's right to vote. I intend to work with the government on a modern electoral law and on decentralization."
Joseph Aoun: "My mandate will be one of openness to the East and West, to the international community, based on mutual respect, Lebanon's sovereignty and the country's freedom to make its own decisions."
Joseph Aoun: "In view of the regional changes, we have a historic opportunity to discuss with Syria how to resolve all the issues, in particular respect for the sovereignty of both countries and the issue of the missing, as well as dealing rationally with the issue of refugees."
Joseph Aoun: "We will not negotiate the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon. Nor do we forget our martyrs and prisoners. Our differences are a strength and an asset, and it's high time we put our faith in Lebanon, not in our quarrels. During my mandate, I will work to establish the best relations with Arab countries, we will practice positive neutrality and we will export only the best of Lebanon to these countries."
Joseph Aoun: "I promise to rebuild what the Israeli aggression destroyed all over Lebanon. "
Joseph Aoun: "I will work to revitalize the role of the security forces. I will be the first to defend the national pact, and I will carry out my mandate with fairness and justice. I will discuss a defense strategy for the Lebanese state to fight against the Israeli invasion. And I do mean the Lebanese state."
Joseph Aoun: "I will work to ensure compliance with international conventions."
Joseph Aoun: "We're going through a crisis of power, a crisis of understanding of democracy, a crisis of power and leaders. I pledge to the Lebanese people that I will work to restore Lebanon's image abroad, and to fight poverty and unemployment. The authorities will have a monopoly on arms. The State must invest in its army, to be able to protect its borders, fight smuggling and terrorism, and prevent Israeli aggression on its territory."
Once again, a round of applause followed the president-elect's statement on weapons.
Joseph Aoun: "I'll be launching my consultations to form a government as soon as possible. With Parliament and the government, we're going to straighten out the administration to restore the prestige of the State and set up a modern, efficient administration."
Joseph Aoun: "I promise to appeal against all unconstitutional laws, so that Parliament can revise them."
Joseph Aoun: "We need equality between all citizens, because to have a state you need equality in the eyes of the law. This means an end to mafias, drug trafficking and interference in the justice system to protect criminals. Justice is the only protection for all citizens."
Referring to the importance of judicial independence, Joseph Aoun was applauded by the deputies.
Joseph Aoun: “I say to the Lebanese people everywhere: We are entering a new era for Lebanon. I take an oath to preserve this nation and pledge to fully assume my presidential responsibilities and protect freedoms."
Joseph Aoun: “We need to change our political vision, in terms of protecting our borders, our economic policies and our conception of the State and development, and our environmental policies.”
“It's the most important decoration I've ever received. Despite the wars, the [Israeli] aggression, because our identity is Lebanese in diversity, and we are attached to our country, our quality is courage and despite our differences, we support each other,” continues the president-elect.
“It's the most important decoration I've ever received. Despite the wars, the [Israeli] aggression, because our identity is Lebanese in diversity, and we are attached to our country, our quality is courage and despite our differences, we support each other,” continues the president-elect.
“I am the first president of Lebanon's second centenary, at a time of great upheaval in the Middle East,” said Joseph Aoun as he took the oath of office.
The head of parliament interrupts the start of the swearing-in ceremony to congratulate the new president.
The president-elect was greeted by applause from the deputies.
President-elect Joseph Aoun entered the hemicycle to take the oath of office before MPs, the caretaker Cabinet and foreign diplomats.
Prior to his entrance, the national anthem was played as he reviewed the troops forming a guard of honor around him.
(Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
“A la hauteur, et bien plus,” reads this sign bearing the effigy of Joseph Aoun, on the side of the freeway leading to Hazmieh.
(Credit: Matthieu Karam)
The presidential convoy on the Hazmieh highway, on its way to Parliament in downtown Beirut, Jan. 9, 2025 after the election of Joseph Aoun.
⚡Army commander-in-chief Joseph Aoun elected Lebanese president with 99 votes.
The second round of voting comes to an end. All 128 deputies have placed their ballots in the ballot box, after the ballots have been counted. Counting begins.
Voting resumes in the hemicycle, and MPs are called by name to place their ballot papers in the ballot box.
The Parliament Speaker enters the hemicycle. The second round begins.
The photo of MP Mark Daou's first-round ballot paper, published by the parliamentarian on X in the middle of the election session, has caused a stir on the web. The photographed ballot shows the name of General Joseph Aoun.
“Voting must be secret and it is forbidden to present proof of voting,” remarked jurist Nizar Saghiyeh on X. “If we allow such contraventions to pass, we are hindering the secrecy of the elections and facilitating interference,” he added.
The bell rings in Parliament for the resumption of the presidential election session.
The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary group, Mohammad Raad, and Amal deputy Ali Hassan Khalil met with the army's commander-in-chief during the recess for consultations, according to media reports. They are currently reporting the results of their meeting to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
According to MP Georges Bouchikian, the talks were successful and Commander-in-Chief Joseph Aoun is expected to be elected today.
Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with French envoy Jean-Yves le Drian during the break for consultations, according to LBCI.
The deputies return to the hemicycle after a break of almost two hours, according to our reporter on site.
“Talks are underway between Hezbollah and those involved in the presidential election, in particular the army's commander-in-chief, Joseph Aoun," who is expected to win the election, a source close to the Shiite party told our local reporter Salah Hijazi.
“We're not happy with the way the commander-in-chief of the army has been imposed. On the other hand, we won't remain outside the consensus as long as he calls for the Lebanese components not to be annulled or sidelined,” adds this source.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism that a president would be elected today. “In the second round, a president will be elected with a parliamentary majority,” he assured the Al-Arabiya television channel, an interview picked up by the National News Agency (NNA).
Simon Abi Ramia, MP for Jbeil, said that he voted for Joseph Aoun, according to our journalist in Parliament.
Testimony from south Lebanon
Yola al-Hajj works in Mieh Mieh, south of Saida:
“I'm not very enthusiastic about today's parliamentary session, because what's going to happen is not a Lebanese decision. The MPs will be elected according to [foreign] instructions, they will work according to the will of the Americans, France and others. The situation in the country may improve after the election of a president, but that will only be after the international community gets what it wants from Lebanon.”
MPs Jamil Sayed (Baalbeck-Hermel) and Jihad Samad (Denniyeh) voted blank, according to a parliamentary source quoted by our journalist Salah Hijazi.
MPs Melhem Khalaf (Beirut II) and Oussama Saad (Saida) are said to be behind the two ballot papers bearing the name of jurist Shebli Mallat, according to information from our journalist at Parliament, Salah Hijazi.
As a reminder, Khalaf began a parliamentary sit-in on Jan. 19, 2023, following the failure of one of the many parliamentary sessions devoted to the presidential election. Since then, he has only left Parliament on rare occasions.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Rita Sassine and Anthony Samrani's on-the-spot analysis of the first-round results:
The main lesson of the session is that the Shiite tandem Amal/Hezbollah, who probably voted blank, were not ready to consecrate the election of the leader of the troops in the first round.
In October 2016, former president Michel Aoun obtained only 84 votes in the first round, when he needed 86. The second round was a mess. The deputies had to vote three times. On the first two occasions, 128 ballots were cast, although 127 deputies were present in the hemicycle.
MP Kassem Hachem, close to the Amal movement, promised the press, in Parliament after Nabih Berri suspended the session, “surprises” in the second round.
The frontrunner, Army Commander Joseph Aoun, topped the votes with 71 out of 128. However, this is less than the 86 votes needed for a candidate to be elected in the first round and which he will still need — as a first-category civil servant — to potentially be elected in the following round.
Read our quick wrap-up and analysis of the first round here.
Berri announced a two-hour break for consultations before the second round. Some MPs object to this decision and call for an immediate second round.
🔴 The first-round count shows 71 votes for army commander-in-chief Joseph Aoun, 37 blank votes, 14 votes for Sovereignty and the Constitution, 2 votes for former candidate Shebli Mallat and 4 cancelled votes.
A heated discussion punctuated by insults between independent MP Paula Yacoubian and FPM representative Salim Aoun, after the MP accused the political class of not wanting Joseph Aoun for president.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri calmed things down.
“Every time I talk politics, I'm met with insults,” reacts Yacoubian, as Salim Aoun continues his invective.
Firas Hamdan, independent MP for Hasbaya, also took the floor and accused the political class of being “behind the violation of the Constitution” that would constitute an election of Joseph Aoun, Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, without amending the Fundamental Law.
Michel Daher, MP for Zahle, recalls the failures of the State and the current political class. “We want to build a state, provide the population with electricity and return their confiscated money. My choice has always been Joseph Aoun, and I have not been pressured to give him my vote."
MP Yassine Yassine, a member of the popular protest movement: “The current political class has been unable to provide stability for the population. These are the priorities for the next stage.”
Elias Baissari, the acting director general of General Security, whose name had been circulating among the presidential candidates, called in a press release for his name to be “withdrawn” from the race, while welcoming the “agreement” on Joseph Aoun's candidacy.
Michel Moawad, former presidential candidate from the Hezbollah opposition: “Today we must turn the page after two years and two months of presidential vacuum and war. We don't want just any president, but a unifying one. We want to build Lebanon together, with Arab and international support. Otherwise, we won't be able to get the country out of its rut. I call on the Shiite tandem to complete this meeting for the election of a president.”
In south Lebanon
Preparations are currently underway in the village of Aashiyeh, Joseph Aoun's home village in the district of Jezzine, for the announcement of the army commander-in-chief's election to the presidency, according to the National News Agency (NNA). Photos of the commander and Lebanese flags were hoisted and “sheep were prepared to be slaughtered as soon as he is announced as president,” the agency reports.
Adib Abdel Massih, independent MP for Koura, said that while the Constitution must be respected, it was necessary to agree today to elect a president.
Waddah Sadek, MP for Beirut, felt that “Parliament is faced with a difficult decision." “But the situation is 10 times worse than in 2008, when Parliament decided to override the Constitution to elect Michel Sleiman,” he added.
Blank ballot papers, on which deputies will note the name of their candidate, are distributed to deputies. Nabih Berri reminds them that candidates' names must be noted “clearly” on the ballot paper
MP Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb party, recalled the precedent set by parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri in the 2008 elections. We are in a country under Israeli occupation, which has lost its sovereignty,” he said, referring to "Syrian tutelage and that which followed. Worse today than the violation of the Constitution is its discretionary violation,” he added.
“We are turning a page in 55 years of conflict between the Lebanese. We hope that history will turn a new page. I am addressing my colleagues from Hezbollah and Amal. We don't want the Lebanese to go through what we went through, with tears, revenge and accusations of treachery. We want all Lebanese to live together, in respect, in partnership, in recognition of each other and their sacrifices, and in respect for the Constitution,” he added.
Nabih Berri reminds us that candidates' names must be noted “clearly” on the ballot paper. At least two deputies, including Paula Yacoubian, asked about the Arabic spelling of Joseph Aoun's name.
The voting process begins, with MPs entering their candidate's name. Some stand up, quickly invited to return to their seats. The atmosphere is neutral.
One after the other, MPs are called upon to deposit their ballot papers in the ballot box set up in the middle of the hemicycle.
All 128 MPs are present in the hemicycle, two minutes before the start of the session.
The parliamentary session to elect a new president has begun, announced the head of parliament, Nabih Berri. He confirmed that no deputy was absent.
Before the start of voting, MP Melhem Khalaf intervened, warning against a violation of the Constitution, calling for the establishment of the rule of law and respect for the Constitution.
The head of the FPM, Gebran Bassil, also intervened: “We are witnessing a return to the era of consuls and the appointment of a head of state from outside,” he denounced.
“The Head of State is the only one who swears to respect the Constitution. It is unthinkable that he should be elected thanks to a violation of the Constitution,” added Gebran Bassil.
Jamil Sayed, MP close to the Shiite tandem: “This is not an election session, but a session to ratify the appointment of a president.”
MP Oussama Saad, head of the Nasserite Popular Organization, also denounced outside interference. “Stop this massacre of the Constitution,” he asked the Parliament Speaker.
Testimonial from south Lebanon
Zainab Salameh is 60 and a teacher in Sour.
“I'm not really going to follow the parliamentary session. I have a job and my job is more important than wasting time following a session that is imposed on the Lebanese and whose results are known. In my entourage, the electoral process doesn't arouse much interest either. The only phrase people repeat is 'They want to impose Joseph Aoun as president on the Lebanese.' As far as I'm concerned, with or without a president, we can't establish a state, it's all the same. I'm not optimistic about a president who would be imposed on us and whose election would not be a conviction shared 100 percent by all Lebanese,” she said.
How many votes does a candidate need to be elected president?
In the first round, two-thirds of the votes, or 86 out of 128 deputies, are required for a candidate to be elected. In the second and subsequent rounds, this total drops to half plus one, or 65. It is for this reason that, in previous sessions, the Shiite Amal-Hezbollah tandem blocked any possible second round, by withdrawing from the hemicycle and bringing the quorum below 86 participants, while some opposition MPs criticized Nabih Berri's reading that each session would resume with a first round.
Who are the main candidates?
The name that has been on everyone's lips for the past few days, and which enjoys the support of the international community, is that of the army's Commander-in-Chief, General Joseph Aoun. General Aoun, like other presidential candidates whose names are circulating, has not officially declared his candidacy. These other figures include former minister Jihad Azour, around whom the opposition to Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) rallied during the June 2023 session, Elias Baissari, acting director of General Security, and MP Ibrahim Kanaan, a former FPM member.
All these candidates, whether declared or not, are Maronites. Indeed, although the Constitution does not state that the supreme magistracy is reserved for a religious group, it was on the basis of a consensus established between the country's different forces in 1943, at the time of independence, that Lebanon's main communities shared out the three presidencies. Since then, the presidency has been held by a Maronite Christian, that of the Government by a Sunni Muslim and that of the House by a Shiite Muslim.
Can Joseph Aoun be elected without amending the Constitution?
In the last few hours, internal and international momentum has built up in support of Joseph Aoun's candidacy. A question remains, however, about the eligibility of the general, who as Commander-in-Chief of the army is a first-class civil servant. Indeed, according to article 49 of the Constitution, judges and first category civil servants cannot be elected to the head of state either during their term of office or within two years of their resignation from their position. But, as usual in Lebanon, this article has never been respected to the letter.
For some constitutionalists, obtaining the votes of 86 deputies (i.e. two-thirds of the 128 parliamentarians) could be assimilated to an implicit green light for amending the Constitution (which requires the same threshold of votes), notably in the case of an agreement around the election of a first-class civil servant.
If a president is elected, what major challenges will he or she face?
After more than two years of presidential vacancy, the Republic, or at least many of its institutions, are run on an interim basis. A president is needed to approve the appointments of key civil servants, such as the Governor of the Banque du Liban or the Director of General Security. A new government will also have to be formed, as Najib Mikati's outgoing cabinet has been in charge of current affairs since May 2022. The future head of state will also inherit a country devastated by an economic and financial crisis, in which major infrastructure reforms will be necessary to obtain aid from the international community and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The next major deadline is the end of the cease-fire with Israel on Jan. 27, while the Israeli army remains mobilized in southern Lebanon, continuing to destroy villages and kidnap inhabitants.
Lastly, the future president will be expected to address diplomatic issues such as the need to re-establish relations between Lebanon and Syria virtually from scratch, one month after the fall of the Assad regime.
At Parliament
42 MPs have already arrived at Parliament, according to an LBCI tally.
On the Parliamentary session
At 10:20 a.m., 74 Lebanese MPs arrived at the Lebanese Parliament.
Outside Parliament, Jihad Pakradounian, an independent MP who had run on a list supported by the Lebanese Forces, tells our journalist Salah Hijazi:
“From the start, our candidate was Joseph Aoun. On two occasions, we fought to keep him at the head of the army.”
The Saudi ambassador in Beirut, Walid Boukhari, arrived at the Lebanese Parliament to follow the election session.
In front of Parliament, Adnan Traboulsi, MP for Beirut, told L'Orient Today that “the Sunnis have decided to support Joseph Aoun because there is a consensus.”
MP Oussama Saad, leader of the Nasserite Popular Organization (Saida), told our local journalist Salah Hijazi that he would not be voting blank, but “would not be siding with those who violate the Constitution” by voting for Joseph Aoun.
Testimonial
In the Bekaa, our correspondent Sarah Abdallah takes the pulse of the street: How do the inhabitants feel on this election day?
For Walaa Abdullah, who teaches French at secondary school:
“The presidential vacuum and the economic and security crises have taught us that we need a strong, sovereign president. He will be able to restore the face of Lebanon, soiled by some, and he will turn the country, with the help of a people proud of their nation, into an institutional state with laws and justice. We hope that the election of the new president will be a step towards the desired change for this country that we love so much, that we would like to see prosper at all levels.”
By 10:45 a.m., 107 MPs had already arrived at Parliament House in downtown Beirut.
Also present at the Chamber are French ambassador Hervé Magro, US ambassador Lisa Johnson and French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived at Parliament.
In Parliament, independent MP Halima Kaakour told our journalist Salah Hijazi that she would be voting blank. “I will never violate the Constitution,” she said.
Testimonial
For Charles, a resident of Achrafieh who did not wish to give his surname, what is currently happening in Parliament is a “play.” He doubts that the election of a president can “save the country.” “Every party's objective is to serve its own supporters. With this mentality, the country's worn-out situation won't change,” he told our local journalist Malek Jadah.
Another testimonial comes to us from the Bekaa, via our correspondent Sarah Abdallah:
Rabih Kassem, 40 years old and also a secondary school mathematics teacher:
“On the question of whether things can change if a president of the republic is elected, yes it's possible that there will be change. Especially as he [Joseph Aoun] is far removed from clientelism. We also hope that there will be a Prime Minister who resembles him, and that together they can fight corruption, have laws and above all justice in the country, respected by politicians.”
In front of Parliament
FPM leader MP Gebran Bassil, son-in-law of former head of state Michel Aoun, has just arrived at Place de l'Étoile.
For her part, independent MP Paula Yacoubian tells our journalist Salah Hijazi of her fears of an attempt to sabotage the parliamentary session for the election of a president, when 109 MPs are already in the hemicycle, 5 minutes before the start of the session.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Inside the Parliament building:
French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian reaches the diplomatic galleries shortly before the start of the session.
Welcome to our live coverage of Lebanon's presidential election day.
At 11 a.m., Lebanon's 128 deputies are summoned to Parliament to choose the future president and potentially end a two-year, two-month and nine-day presidential vacancy.
Before the session begins, what do you need to know to understand what's going to happen at the Lebanese Parliament?
Here are a few keys.
How long has Lebanon been without a president?
On Oct. 31, 2022, Michel Aoun completed his term of office. The presidential election period had begun two months earlier, according to the constitutional deadline, on Sept. 1, 2022. Michel Aoun had been elected six years earlier, after two years, five months and seven days of vacancy.
This presidential vacuum has therefore lasted since Aoun's term of office ended, two years, two months and nine days.
Why the delay?
This delay, which is not unusual for electing a president in an extremely divided Lebanon, is explained by the lack of consensus between the political forces, which is essential, as no party has a clear majority in Parliament.
The 14 months of clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, including the eight weeks of open warfare from late September to late November, have further delayed the deadline. Indeed, the last electoral session, the 12th since November 2022, was held on June 14, 2023, a few weeks before Oct. 7, 2023. After this date, Nabih Berri had repeatedly stated that he would wait for a cease-fire before calling a new election, which he did on Nov. 28, 2024, a few hours after the truce agreement came into force. Each session called by Berri in 2022 and 2023 ended in a lack of quorum, as deputies from Hezbollah and its allies withdrew from the chamber after the first round.
The ballot box, Jan. 8, 2025. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
Voting procedure
After noting the name of their candidate on a ballot paper, placed in a small envelope, each deputy is called by name to come and slip it into a ballot box. Nabih Berri and the officers then count the ballots, announcing the candidate's name as each envelope is opened and counting the votes.
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