In Lebanon, the parliament is set to elect a new president after more than two years of vacancy following the end of Michel Aoun’s term. The leading candidate is Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army commander, who is supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Former candidate Suleiman Frangieh withdrew his candidacy in favor of Aoun, potentially clearing the way for his election.
Lebanon’s political system, which is based on sectarian power-sharing, has faced deadlock due to political and procedural issues. Joseph Aoun, as a sitting army commander, faces constitutional barriers to becoming president, requiring a two-thirds majority in both rounds of voting.
Other candidates include Jihad Azour, a former finance minister, and Elias al-Baysari, the acting head of Lebanon’s General Security agency. The new president will need to appoint a permanent prime minister and cabinet, as well as tackle the country’s economic and financial crisis, which has left many Lebanese struggling with power cuts and economic instability.
The successful election of a president will be crucial for Lebanon to move forward with reconstruction efforts following the conflict with Hezbollah and to secure financial assistance from the IMF. The country’s next government will face significant challenges in implementing reforms and addressing economic issues to stabilize the country.
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