Lebanese President Joseph Aoun taking the oath of office after his election on January 9, 2025. (Credit: AFP.)
The May municipal elections marked a comeback of political parties and traditional families. This came in a stark contrast to the wind of change promised by the mandates of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. With a year to go before the legislative elections, these established forces appear well positioned to seize the upper hand in the vote, unless the president chooses to throw his hat into the ring, aiming to secure political footholds in Parliament, perhaps even form his own parliamentary bloc, and eventually establish a party of his own.In such a case, the president could draw on several key assets: his popularity, his image as a reformer, and the strong international support backing him. Yet he may also face significant hurdles — chief among them, his limited grassroots presence and the challenge of forging...
The May municipal elections marked a comeback of political parties and traditional families. This came in a stark contrast to the wind of change promised by the mandates of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. With a year to go before the legislative elections, these established forces appear well positioned to seize the upper hand in the vote, unless the president chooses to throw his hat into the ring, aiming to secure political footholds in Parliament, perhaps even form his own parliamentary bloc, and eventually establish a party of his own.In such a case, the president could draw on several key assets: his popularity, his image as a reformer, and the strong international support backing him. Yet he may also face significant hurdles — chief among them, his limited grassroots presence and the challenge of forging...
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