Lebanon’s Parliament Fails to Elect President in 13th Attempt; Joseph Aoun Receives 71 Votes

Jan 9, 2025, 10:17 AM

Lebanon's parliament convened on Thursday for its 13th attempt in over two years to elect a new president, aiming to fill a leadership vacuum that has persisted since former President Michel Aoun's term ended in 2022. Army commander Joseph Aoun emerged as the leading candidate, securing 71 votes in the first round of voting. However, he fell short of the 86 votes needed to win in the first round. The voting saw 37 blank ballots and 20 invalid votes. The session was marked by heated exchanges, with lawmakers engaging in arguments and trading insults. After the first round failed to produce a president, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session for two hours to allow for consultations. The parliament reconvened later to hold a second round of voting, where only 65 votes are required to win. There are expectations that Joseph Aoun may secure the presidency in the second round.