An indirect election of the president of Lebanon took place from 29 September 2022 until 9 January 2025 to determine the successor of term-limited incumbent Michel Aoun.[1] The commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Joseph Aoun (no close relation to Michel),[2] was elected president in the second round of voting of the thirteenth parliamentary session on 9 January 2025, securing 99 votes. He took office on the same day while keeping his position as the commander of the Lebanese Forces, becoming the 14th president and the fifth army commander to assume the role.
By convention, the presidency is always held by a Maronite Christian. The incumbent president is only eligible for re-election to a second, non-consecutive term.[5]
Large-scale anti-government demonstrations ignited in Lebanon on 17 October 2019. Initially triggered in response to a rise in gas and tobacco prices as well as a new tax on messaging applications,[6] This resulted in the forkward demonstrations quickly turned into a revolution against the stagnation of the economy, unemployment, Lebanon's sectarian and hereditary political system, corruption and the government's inability to provide essential services such as water, electricity and sanitation.[7] Prime Minister Saad Hariri ended up resigning on 29 October 2019.[8]
Hassan Diab was appointed prime minister by President Michel Aoun on 19 December 2019.[9] His government obtained the confidence of parliament by 69 votes in its favour.[10]
However, the country's economic situation continued to deteriorate. The government was over 95 billion dollars in debt by the end of 2020,[11] the Lebanese pound lost 70% of its value in six months,[12] and 35% of the active population was unemployed.[13] Riots broke out in Beirut and Tripoli and Jounieh.[13]
On 4 August 2020, the explosion of several thousand tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a hangar in the Port of Beirut caused considerable human and material damage across the city and the port. The final toll was 218 dead and over 7,000 injured[14] and damage estimated at nearly four billion euros by the World Bank and estimated to have left 300,000 homeless.[15] The industrial-port zone of the Port of Beirut was badly affected, further aggravating the economic situation. Prior to the explosion, 60% of the country's imports transited through the port.[16]
The blast was so powerful that it physically shook the whole country of Lebanon. It was felt in Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel, as well as parts of Europe, and was heard in Cyprus, more than 240 km (150 mi) away.[17] It was detected by the United States Geological Survey as a seismic event of magnitude 3.3 and is considered one of the most powerful accidental artificial non-nuclear explosions in history.[17]
The adjacent grain silos were badly damaged. In July and August 2022, part of the silos collapsed following a weeks-long fire in the remaining grain.[19]
2022 parliamentary elections
In May 2022, Lebanon held its first election since a painful economic crisis dragged it to the brink of becoming a failed state. Lebanon's crisis has been so severe that more than 80 percent of the population is now considered poor by the United Nations. In the election Iran-backed Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement and its allies lost their parliamentary majority. Hezbollah did not lose any of its seats, but its allies lost seats. Hezbollah's ally, President Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, was no longer the biggest Christian party after the election. A rival Christian party, led by Samir Geagea, with close ties to Saudi Arabia, the Lebanese Forces (LF), made gains. Sunni Future Movement, led by former prime minister Saad Hariri, did not participate the election, leaving a political vacuum to other Sunni politicians to fill.[20][21][22]
Israel–Hezbollah conflict and fall of the Assad regime
After the fall of the Assad regime, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that Syria would not interfere in Lebanese internal affairs as it had under Assad; he added that "if the Lebanese agree on Joseph Aoun as president, we will support him".[28]
Electoral system
The Constitution of Lebanon does not require candidates to explicitly stand or state any mechanism by which they can. Candidates can only express an interest in the position.
Under article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution, a qualified majority of two-thirds of the members of the Lebanese Parliament is required to elect the president in the first round. The quorum also amounts to two-thirds of the Parliament. In the second round, a president can be elected by a simple majority of 65 deputies. There is however ambiguity on the constitutionality of the two-thirds quorum, since constitutional texts do not explicitly mention it. Some have interpreted this omission as intentional, such as legal scholar Assam Khalifeh, while Speaker Nabih Berri has relied on the opposite interpretation to enable his allies to resort to quorum-busting. An example of this would be the 2014–2016 Lebanese presidential election, where quorum would not be met for forty-three electoral sessions.
The Constitution also states that, in the last ten days of the incumbent's tenure, the powers of an electoral college are vested in parliament.
Ziad Hayek, former head of the High Council for Privatization and public-private partnership (2006–2019), Lebanese nominee for president of the World Bank in 2019[32]
May Rihani, international development and gender scholar, Director of the Gibran Chair for Values and Peace at the University of Maryland, former UN co-chair of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (2008–2010)[35]
Gebran Bassil, MP (2018–present), incumbent party leader (2015–present) and former Minister of Telecommunications (2009–2009), Energy and Water (2009–2014) and Foreign Affairs (2014–2020)[43]
Ibrahim Kanaan, MP (2005–present) and Chairman of the Parliamentary Budget and Financial Affairs Commission (2009–present).[44][45]
Ziyad Baroud, lawyer, professor and former Minister of Interior (2008–2011) and candidate for the 2018 Lebanese general election.[44] According to L'Orient–Le Jour, a previous candidacy for the FPM led the opposition to veto his candidacy.[45]
Chibli Mallat, international lawyer, professor and candidate for the aborted 2005–2006 presidential election
Jihad Azour, former Minister of Finance (2005–2008)and the current Middle East and Central Asia Director in the IMF.[44] According to L'Orient–Le Jour, he is opposed by Hezbollah due to his participation in the first Siniora government.[45]
Samir Assaf, HSBC executive.[47] According to L'Orient–Le Jour, he is close to Macron, and enjoys French support because of his distance from the political establishment, but may lack familiarity with Lebanese political life.[45]
Nassif Hitti, diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (2020).[47] According to L'Orient–Le Jour, he left the government in 2020 because he felt the government had allowed Abbas Ibrahim, head of the Sûreté générale, to encroach on his diplomatic responsibilities, and elicits some support and opposition in the Aounist camp.[45]
Philippe Ziade, businessman and Honorary Consul of Lebanon in Nevada[48]
Roger Dib, former Minister, member in the National Committee of Christian/Muslim Dialogue, director of the Near East Consulting Group[44]
Farid Elias El-Khazen, former MP (2005–2018), Ambassador to the Holy See (2018–present).[44] According to L'Orient–Le Jour, he enjoyed good relations with the Maronite church, and the Assad regime; he was part of Frangieh's parliamentary bloc.[45]
Issam Khalifeh, historian, academic at the Lebanese University and trade unionist, first president of the National Union of Lebanese University Students
Suleiman Frangieh, Leader of the Marada Movement (1990-present), MP (1991-2005, 2009-2018)
Election
First to fourth sessions
The first electoral session was held on 29 September 2022. The first and only round did not result in any candidate's election, due to the need to secure an absolute majority of 86 votes. Notably, 10 MPs voted for "Lebanon" while one vote went to Mahsa Amini. Before the second round, a number of deputies unexpectedly left the Chamber, leading the assembly to lose the quorum by one MP and postponing the vote without a second round.[52]
A second session was held on 13 October but failed to secure a quorum with only 71 out of 128 deputies being there due to FPM boycotting the session in memorial of 13 October 1990, below the quorum of 2/3 (86 deputies).[53][54]
A third session was held on 20 October 2022.[55] Michel Moawad received 42 votes, 55 MPs voted with a blank slip, one MP voted for Milad Abou Malhab. 17 MPs submitted ballots reading "New Lebanon", and one each for "Ruler, savior and reformer", "For Lebanon", "Righteous dictator" and "Nobody".[56] The second round was once again cancelled as FPM deputies left the Chamber, causing the loss of the quorum.[57]
The fourth session to elect a president was held on 24 October with the presence of 114 deputies. In the first (and only) round, Moawad received 39 votes, while 50 blank ballots were registered, and 10 votes for Issam Khalifeh, a reputable academic nominated by a number of pro-Change MPs. A number of MPs voted "New Lebanon" as in the previous session, while Jamil Al Sayyed wrote "My Condolences" on his ballot paper. As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held.[58]
Michel Aoun signed the government's resignation decree, a day before the end of his term, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government remained in office in a caretaker capacity, which was unconstitutional since it went against Aoun's request for the cabinet's step-down after numerous attempts failed to form a new cabinet.[61][62] Aoun's six-year term expired on 31 October 2022, with no successor designated, similarly to his predecessors.[63][64]
Fifth session
The fifth session to elect a president was held on 10 November with the presence of 108 deputies. In the first (and only) round, Moawad received 44 votes, while 47 blank ballots were registered, 6 votes for Issam Khalifeh, a reputable academic nominated by a number of pro-Change MPs, 1 vote for former Minister Ziyad Baroud from Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab and 1 vote for Ziad Hayek from Elias Jaradeh. 7 MPs voted "New Lebanon" as in the previous session, while Zgharta MP Michel Douaihy wrote "Plan B" on his ballot paper and one vote went "For Lebanon". As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held.[65][66]
The sixth session to elect a president was held on 17 November with the presence of 112 deputies. In the first (and only) round, Moawad received 43 votes, while 46 blank ballots were registered, 7 votes for Issam Khalifeh, 1 vote for former Minister Ziyad Baroud, 1 vote for MP Michel Daher and 1 vote for Suleiman Frangieh Jr. 9 MPs voted "New Lebanon" while 2 ballots were cancelled. As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held, a seventh session was scheduled for Thursday 24 November.[68]
No significant developments occurred between the seventh to eleventh sessions to elect a president. No candidate obtained a majority in the first rounds of the voting. As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held.[70][71]
The tenth session to elect a president was held on 15 December 2022. No candidate obtained a majority in the first round. The next session, scheduled for 12 January 2023, was postponed by the speaker due to the death of Hussein El-Husseini.[72]
The eleventh session to elect a president was held on 19 January 2023. No candidate obtained a majority in the first round. As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held. After the election two MPs from the Change Movement, Najat A. Saliba and Melhem Khalaf, locked themselves in parliament in protest.[73]
After the eleventh electoral session, Speaker Nabih Berri announced he would hold off of calling a twelfth session to elect a president unless he sees what he deems as "a sort of agreement" on a candidate. In response, Change MPs, joined by multiple parties, called for consecutive and successive ballots to be held until a president is chosen. Two reformist deputies, Melhem Khalaf and Najat Saliba, staged a sit-in in the Chamber of Deputies until a new session is held and remained there until the election of Joseph Aoun.[74]
In early June, the United States declared that it was thinking about imposing sanctions on individuals who had interfered with the election. Speaker Nabih Berri, who hadn't summoned a session since January, may have been referenced in this statement. Berri released a statement the next day in which he absolved himself of all blame for the obstruction. The international community has urged Lebanon to pick a new president and carry out the reforms necessary to secure a financial bailout arrangement on numerous occasions.[75]
In February 2023 officials from France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt met in Paris to discuss the presidential vacancy and political impasse that followed.[76] The five came to be known as the "quintet".[77] On 7 June 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron named Jean-Yves Le Drian as his personal envoy for Lebanon to end the political deadlock.[78][79]
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have announced their endorsement for Suleiman Frangieh in the upcoming ballots. In parallel, an initiative led by independent MP Ghassan Skaff culminated in talks between opposition parties, taking advantage of the growing rift between the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah and the warming of Syrian-Gulf diplomatic relations. With the support of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, it was announced in late May 2023 that the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb, the FPM and the PSP had agreed to endorse the candidacy of IMF economist and former Minister of Finance Jihad Azour for the role of president.[80][81]
Twelfth session
The twelfth session to elect a president was held on 14 June 2023.[82] No candidate obtained a majority in the first round. As per the previous sessions, quorum was lost before a second round could be held after only 81 MPs remained in the room. However, Nabih Berri's choice of not conducting a second round was controversial since there had been a greater consensus between the MPs unlike the sessions before. It was also argued by numerous MPs that the round should have been cancelled or ballots recounted since the votes cast did not match the MPs present in the session.[83] In that round, economist Jihad Azour received 60 votes, 51 votes for Suleiman Frangieh, 6 votes for former Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud, 1 vote for military general Joseph Aoun and 1 blank vote. 8 MPs voted "New Lebanon" while 1 ballot for controversial businessman and contractor Jihad Al Arab was cancelled as he is a Sunni Muslim. Finally, 1 ballot was counted as lost,[83] before being counted to Jihad Azour.[84]
In July 2023, Naharnet reported that Qatar and the United States supported Aoun.[86] In an interview Aoun said, "I don't care about [his candidacy], it doesn't concern me, no one has discussed it with me and I haven't discussed it with anyone".[87]
Nabih Berri and Hezbollah nominated Georges Khoury, former ambassador to the Holy See, as a secondary option to Suleiman Frangieh. This was also reportedly proposed by Qatari mediation officials and even Najib Mikati.[88] Leaders of the main opposition Christian Blocs, Samir Geagea and Sami Gemayel, reacted with refusal to negotiate with Hezbollah unless they let go of their primary candidate Frangieh.[89] Nabih Berri called at the start of September 2024 for renewed Presidential elections.[90]
Announcements of candidacy
On 12 December, Frem officially declared his presidential candidacy; he proposed various reforms, and to implement the Taif agreement and UN Resolution 1701.[91] On the same day, Geagea said he was prepared to stand given sufficient support.[92]
Aoun endorsements
On 18 December, the Democratic Gathering bloc, led by the Progressive Socialist Party, which previously supported Azour, announced that it would support Aoun.[93] Former PSP leader Walid Jumblat reportedly tried to convince Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his bloc to support Aoun.[49] On 7 January, Jumblat restated the PSP's support for Aoun.[94] Jumblat said that the a president should be selected in the first round of voting, before Trump's accession to office.
On 6 and 8 January, Frem and other "centrist" MPs, some of whom were formerly members of the FPM, said they would support Aoun if a consensus were reached on his election.[95] Frem said he would continue his campaign if Aoun were not elected.[96] The National Moderation bloc[97] and Frangieh (who withdrew)[98] also said they would support Aoun. On the same day, Berri's Amal said it would support Aoun if there were a majority in his favour.[99] Ayoub Hamid, a member of Amal, said that "in principle" Amal and Hezbollah had a common position.[100] Hezbollah had earlier said it would not veto Aoun's election.[101]
On 7 January, Geagea said that Hezbollah was the main obstacle to Aoun's election, and that if they were to propose him, the Lebanese Forces would seriously consider his candidacy.[102] On 8 January, An-Nahar reported that the Lebanese Forces appeared likely to support Aoun following a meeting between Aoun and Geagea.[100] According to the same report, the Kataeb party and numerous independents associated with the 17 October Revolution were also likely to support Aoun. On 9 January, opposition groups including the Kataeb party, the Renewal bloc, and the Lebanese Forces issued a joint statement in support of Aoun.[103]
Hezbollah and allies; international pressure
After the fall of the Assad regime, rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani stated that Syria would no longer intervene in Lebanese affairs as Assad had, and would support Aoun if elected.[28] On 16 December, Frangieh appeared to indicate his effective withdrawal; he admitted that his chances of success had weakened, which L'Orient–Le Jour interpreted as an allusion to the fall of Assad, and said he was open to any other appropriate candidate.[104]
On 24 December 2024, five Sunni allies of Hezbollah indicated they would not support Frangieh and said they would support a compromise candidate of their own choosing.[105]
On 5 January, Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah's liaison unit, said "we have already said we have no veto", and that "our only veto is against...Geagea", whose election would lead to "discord and destruction"; he also confirmed that Hezbollah would not veto Aoun.[106] A spokesman for the Lebanese Forces denounced the remarks and called for Safa's arrest and prosecution.[107]
On 20 December, L'Orient–Le Jour reported that after Jumblat's announcement of his support for Aoun, the FPM opposed his candidacy, and intended to publicly reject in the name of "Christian rights".[108] On 31 December, Bassil, asked to choose between Aoun, Frangieh, and Geagea, said Geagea commanded popular support.[101]
Saudi Arabia had openly supported Aoun's candidacy in a meeting with Berri, who responded that there was no consensus in his favour. Amos Hochstein visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar to confirm the unified support of the quintet for Aoun, before unambiguously indicating so, and visiting Berri at his headquarters in Ain el Tineh. Bassil also met Berri, and suggested Azour, the opposition's previous candidate, on the basis that nobody could oppose him; Berri proposed instead to wait to determine the level and direction of American pressure. Negotiators were also discussing whether the election of Aoun could be linked to guarantees to Iran, including freedom of movement for Hezbollah officials, a guarantee of its political influence, and the diminishing of military pressure on Iran.[109][110]
According to a further report, members of the quintet including Saudi, American, and French envoys threatened that Lebanon would not receive any aid or attention unless Aoun were elected; Hezbollah, Amal, and the FPM sought to agree an alternative consensus candidate, but failed to do so.[111]
Thirteenth session
Following a ceasefire with Israel, Berri announced that parliament would convene to elect a president on 9 January 2025.[112] This was the first session since Hezbollah was greatly weakened in its conflict with Israel and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria; both events influenced the political situation in Lebanon.[113] Before the vote began, his election was heavily criticized by some opposition members who argued that the Lebanese constitution bars a sitting army commander from being elected president, though the ban has been waived multiple times, which prompted some MPs to cast protest votes.[114]
In the first round, Joseph Aoun received 71 votes and jurist Chibli Mallat received two votes (reportedly from Melhem Khalaf and Osama Saad). Eighteen votes were invalid, including 14 MPs who cast a protest ballot for "Sovereignty and the Constitution" and 1 MP who voted for United States SenatorBernie Sanders (who is not eligible because he is neither a Lebanese citizen nor a Maronite Christian).[115] 37 other MPs voted blank. Berri adjourned the session for two hours before the second round; in the first round 86 votes are needed to win, but in later rounds only 65.[116] Hezbollah and Amal voted for Aoun in the second round. Aoun ended up winning with 99 votes.[117]
^Radhi, Stéphanie (4 January 2022). "Le Liban en 2022 : des défis récurrents et une vacance présidentielle en vue?" [Lebanon in 2022: recurrent challenges, and a presidential vacancy in sight?]. Anadolu Ajansı (in French).
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