Presidential Election

Army Commander Fails First Round of Presidential Vote

Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun failed to get elected as Lebanon’s new president in the first round of parliament voting on Thursday. Aoun received 71 votes, short of the 86 ballots that he needs to be elected in the first round. The ballots included 37 blank votes, two for Chebli Mallat and 18 invalid votes. The blank and invalid votes have ...

MPs' Positions Ahead of the Presidential Election Session

MPs are arriving at Parliament Square to take part in the thirteenth session, scheduled for 11 AM, to elect the 14th President of the Republic. Various MPs have shared their views: “Strong Republic” bloc MP Charbel Massaad stated, “The path of change began with the October 17 revolution, and this path is now crystallizing with the arrival ...

Frangieh, Baroud and Frem Withdraw From Presidential Race, Support Gen. Joseph Aoun

Head of Marada Party Sleiman Frangieh, MP Neemat Frem and former Minister Ziyad Baroud have each announced on Wednesday that they are withdrawing their candidacy for Thursday's presidential election, in favor of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. Frangieh, whose candidature for president was supported by the Shiite duo – Amal and ...

Le Drian Meets with Representatives of Lebanese Political Parties

French presidential envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian has been meeting representatives of various Lebanese political parties since Wednesday morning, hours before legislators convene on Thursday to elect the long-aspired president of the Republic. The French envoy met in the morning with two MPs from the Renewal Bloc, namely Michel Moawad and ...

The Presidential Election Hangs in the Balance

Whether a president is elected in the upcoming January 9 session or the election is postponed, the incoming head of state must inevitably be fit for the new phase Lebanon is entering. There is no more room for maneuver, and the rapid developments in the region compel the authorities to change their approach, uphold the rule of law for everyone, ...

The Final Stretch to the ‘Presidential Deal:’ Consensus or Postponement?

Lebanon faces a critical week as efforts intensify to elect a president, end the prolonged vacancy and produce the much-anticipated “white smoke.” Growing momentum suggests the likely election of Army Chief General Joseph Aoun in the parliamentary session scheduled for Thursday, January 9. A Lebanese MP who recently met with Saudi envoy ...

Democratic Gathering Bloc Supports Gen. Joseph Aoun for Presidency

The Democratic Gathering bloc led by the Progressive Party (PSP) announced on Wednesday the endorsement of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun for the presidency of the republic.  In a meeting attended by former PSP leader Walid Joumblatt, the bloc emphasized the need of electing a president on January 9, the date fixed by parliament Speaker ...

Former FPM MPs Meet with Samy Gemayel on Presidential Election

The parliamentarians of the “Independent Parliamentary Bloc” (former Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) MPs), Elias Bou Saab, Simon Abi Ramia, Ibrahim Kanaan and Alain Aoun met with Samy Gemayel, the head of the Kataeb Party, on Tuesday over the long-delayed presidential election. Following the meeting, Abi Ramia emphasized that several potential ...

Change in Syria Jeopardizes Presidential Election Session on Jan. 9

On December 8, 2024, a historic shift reshaped Syria as Bashar al-Assad's regime fell to the opposition in just ten days. This seismic event reverberated through Damascus and the wider region, drawing attention to the Middle East’s uncertain future at a particularly delicate time, with Israel’s war on Hamas and the conflict with Hezbollah in ...

Pope urges Lebanon to elect a new president immediately

Pope Francis called on Lebanese politicians on Sunday to urgently elect a new president, to get the country's governing institutions functioning again. "I address an urgent invitation to all Lebanese politicians to elect the president of the republic immediately," the pontiff said at Saint Peter's Square at the end of Sunday Angelus ...

Trump Picks Loyalist Pam Bondi as US Attorney General After Matt Gaetz's withdrawal

US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Pam Bondi, a staunch ally who helped defend the ex-leader against impeachment, as US attorney general on Thursday following firebrand Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from the running. Gaetz's retreat amid sexual misconduct allegations signaled limits to Trump's power, even as the president-elect prepares to retake ...