Mufti Deriane congratulates Aoun and receives Saudi Ambassador

The Mufti of the Republic, Abdel Latif Deriane, the highest Sunni authority in Lebanon, extended his congratulations on Friday to the new Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, who was elected the previous day after more than two years of a leadership vacancy in the state.

In a phone call, the religious dignitary wished the president "success and prosperity in his new tasks" to "preserve the security and stability of the country by activating the role of constitutional institutions," while emphasizing "the necessity of cooperating with brotherly and friendly countries."

Mufti Deriane also expressed his "full confidence in the competencies and values" of Joseph Aoun, while stating he has hope in his term, according to a statement by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Boukhari at Dar al-Fatwa

Additionally, the mufti received the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Boukhari, at Dar al-Fatwa, who expressed his country's satisfaction with the election of Aoun to the Lebanese presidency. The Saudi ambassador hailed it as "an important step" aimed at accomplishing a series of missions, including "the revival and reconstruction of Lebanon, establishing its security and stability, initiating a reform process, and restoring the trust of the Arab and international community."

For his part, Deriane stated that "Lebanon has entered a phase of significant political advancements, initiated by the election of a president and which will continue with the formation of a new government, the reactivation of official institutions, and the return to a stable life."

The Lebanese head of government is traditionally Sunni.