The new President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, upon his arrival at the Baabda presidential palace on Jan. 9, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Gathered at the entrance of Baabda Palace, dozens of journalists had set up their microphones and cameras since Thursday morning as they followed the parliamentary electoral session on their phones. Others, seated in the media room, watched the vote live on television amidst the ebb and flow of palace employees, who seemed to have returned to a normal pace after more than two years of vacancy at the country's helm.
Early afternoon saw the red carpet already laid out in front of the entrance, and the presidential band was in place, awaiting the announcement of General Joseph Aoun's election. Once his speech at Parliament concluded, he made his way to the palace, announced by distant sirens.
Along the road to Baabda, dozens waited, holding Lebanese flags and portraits of Aoun, as the new head of state passed by, with some of his portraits also displayed on billboards in Beirut.
Soon after 4 p.m., the palace's fountain was activated, and a 21-gun salute sounded to welcome the president, awaited by his family on the steps. A helicopter flew over the crowd. Aoun entered around 4:15 p.m., surrounded by bodyguards, greeted the presidential palace staff, and proceeded inside amidst applause. Fireworks were also set off, while photographers and journalists jostled to capture the moment.
The door closed on the president, who would officially assume office from Friday after months of negotiations, succeeding Michel Aoun, whose term ended on Oct. 31, 2022. Aoun's portrait will soon join those of the 13 presidents who preceded him, hung in the palace hall. According to information obtained by L'Orient-Le Jour, Aoun and his family will not stay at Baabda Thursday night.
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