Lebanese Parliament to Hold Decisive Second Presidential Vote After Aoun’s Initial Defeat
Failed First Round Leads to Critical Second Election Amid Political Deadlock.
Watan-The first round of voting in the Lebanese parliament has concluded without military commander General Joseph Aoun securing the necessary number of votes to win the presidency. This outcome indicates that Lebanon will proceed to a second round of voting, which could be pivotal in resolving the presidential vacuum that has persisted since October 2022.
In Lebanon, any presidential candidate requires 86 votes in the first round. General Joseph Aoun fell short of this threshold, despite receiving support from over 80 deputies and enjoying extensive international backing, particularly from the United States. Recently, Washington allocated $95 million in military aid to Lebanon, funds that were initially designated for Egypt. This decision is widely interpreted as a clear sign of direct American support for Aoun’s candidacy, positioning him as a viable option capable of bringing relative stability to the country amidst escalating security and economic challenges.
Despite the fact that General Aoun’s candidacy is deemed unconstitutional under Article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution—which prohibits first-category officials and military personnel from running for office until two years after their resignation—political factions believe that his election with a two-thirds majority could serve as an “implicit constitutional amendment.” This scenario is reminiscent of the election of former President Michel Suleiman in 2008.
The legal debate surrounding Joseph Aoun’s nomination has not deterred political parties from considering him a consensus candidate, especially in light of the deadlock among traditional candidates and the paralysis of the presidential mandate due to divisions within parliamentary blocs. With the presidency remaining vacant for over a year, it appears that the parliament is prepared to navigate past legal barriers to break the political stalemate.
The political struggle in Lebanon continues, and the second round of voting may introduce unexpected developments in the Lebanese political landscape. The key question is whether the parliament can overcome the impasse and elect Joseph Aoun as president or if ongoing divisions will extend the crisis. The upcoming days are critical in shaping Lebanon’s political future, amid mounting local and international pressures to end the presidential vacuum that obstructs progress on economic and security issues.
