Lebanon’s parliament has elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president, bringing an end to a protracted power vacuum that has lasted over two years.

The election of Aoun, a Maronite Christian, to the largely ceremonial post marks a significant political development in the crisis-ridden nation.

Aoun’s candidacy received widespread backing from various key political parties, both within Lebanon and internationally.

The United States, France, and Saudi Arabia all voiced support for the army chief, aligning with Lebanon’s traditional sectarian power-sharing system, which reserves the presidency for a Maronite Christian.

The decision to elect Aoun was seen as a unifying move after years of political gridlock, which had left Lebanon without a president and with fractured governance.

In a surprising turn of events, a rival candidate backed by Hezbollah, the powerful Shia militia and political party with strong ties to Iran, withdrew from the race on Wednesday.

The move was seen as a strategic shift by Hezbollah, which opted to endorse Aoun’s candidacy instead. This withdrawal paved the way for the army chief to secure the necessary votes in parliament, ensuring his victory.

Aoun’s election comes at a critical juncture for Lebanon, which has been grappling with both political paralysis and economic instability.

The country recently emerged from a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel, which caused significant damage, especially in southern Lebanon.

The war, which lasted for several weeks, resulted in a ceasefire agreement brokered between the two sides, and left Hezbollah weakened but still a formidable force in the region.

The Lebanese army, under Aoun’s leadership since 2017, played a critical role during the conflict. Unlike Hezbollah, which was actively engaged in hostilities with Israel, the Lebanese army remained uninvolved in the fighting.

This position has solidified the army’s role in ensuring stability in the aftermath of the war. As part of the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese army has a key responsibility to deploy troops in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces begin their withdrawal.

The army is also tasked with overseeing the disarming of Hezbollah’s armed presence in the region, with a deadline of January 26 for Hezbollah to cease its military operations there.

The election of Joseph Aoun as president is seen as a step toward stabilizing Lebanon’s fractured political landscape.

However, many analysts caution that the real challenge for the new president will lie in navigating Lebanon’s deep economic crisis, which has left millions of Lebanese struggling with poverty, inflation, and unemployment.

Aoun will have to work with various political factions, including Hezbollah, to address these urgent issues and to restore trust in Lebanon’s institutions.

The international community has expressed hope that Aoun’s election will lead to a stronger, more effective Lebanese government.

However, with the country’s political landscape remaining divided, it remains to be seen whether the new president can bring lasting change to Lebanon’s troubled political and economic situation.