Joseph Aoun’s Presidency: A Turning Point for Lebanon

After two years without a president, on January 9, 2025, Lebanon elected Joseph Aoun as its new president. A respected military leader with a reputation for neutrality, Aoun takes office during one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history. Aoun, a seasoned army general, has been welcomed by some as a chance for stability, while others question whether his presidency will bring the systemic changes Lebanon urgently needs. His election signals the end of a political deadlock and raises the stakes for addressing the country’s mounting crises. As Aoun promised in his inauguration, “If we want to build a nation, we must all be under the rule of law and the judiciary,” and “There should be no smuggling, drug trafficking, security voids, interference in the judiciary, protections or favoritism.”

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, noted, “This country needs billions of dollars of reconstruction money, and that money won’t come in until Lebanon elects a president that the international community believes is reform-minded, outside what they believe is a corrupt political class.” Aoun’s military background is seen as a strength by those who value his reputation for impartiality and decisiveness. While supporters highlight his ability to rise above Lebanon’s rooted sectarian divides and view him as a potential mediator capable of uniting the nation, critics argue that Aoun’s presidency faces systemic obstacles that have stalled progress for decades. Moreover, the very parliament that elected Aoun remains corrupt, raising concerns about his ability to push through the critical reforms Lebanon urgently needs.

Joseph Aoun’s problems are daunting, with Lebanon’s economic collapse leaving the currency in freefall, public infrastructure in shambles, and trust in the government at an all-time low. His initial priority will include negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for financial aid, necessitating significant economic and anti-corruption reforms. Aoun cannot succeed alone in solving these challenges. Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is Lebanon’s recently-elected Prime Minister. Salam’s emphasis on judicial transparency and accountability is consistent with Aoun’s ideals. In his first speech as prime minister, Salam made his priorities plain. “We have wasted many opportunities to build the state,” he told reporters. “Enough wasted opportunities.”

The present crisis in Lebanon can be traced back to 1990, when the country’s 15-year civil war ended. The war split the country along sectarian lines, and the 1989 Taif Agreement, which brought peace, established a sectarian power-sharing system. Under this system, political authority was split among Lebanon’s religious communities, with a Maronite Christian serving as president, a Sunni Muslim as Prime Minister, and a Shia Muslim as Speaker of Parliament. While this solution resolved open conflict, it resulted in a system where political and religious loyalty was prioritized over national unity.

This system has been plagued by corruption and clientelism, with political elites using public resources to secure support in their communities rather than addressing national concerns. Over decades, mismanagement weakened governmental institutions, making Lebanon susceptible to external shocks. In 2020, the Beirut port explosion—a catastrophic blast allegedly caused by improperly stored ammonium nitrate—highlighted the state’s shortcomings, killing over 200 people, wounding thousands, displacing more than 300,000. It exposed the government’s neglect and prompted further protests demanding accountability. In the following years, Lebanon’s economic collapse worsened, with the Lebanese pound losing more than 95% of its value, poverty rates increasing, and public services deteriorating. Repeated political stalemates left the country without effective leadership, exacerbating the population’s despair.

The recent war between Hezbollah and Israel has left Lebanon even more fragile, with significant casualties, destruction, and a devastated economy. Thousands of families have been displaced, critical infrastructure has been destroyed, and the strain on Lebanon’s deteriorating public services has only increased. Joseph Aoun has stepped into the presidency as the country deals with the aftermath of the war, putting him in the difficult position of balancing national security with the urgent need to prevent additional regional escalation. Furthermore, his leadership will also be evaluated on his ability to rebuild faith in government institutions and extinguish corruption. He has already received international support, with nations like France promising conditional financial aid in exchange for tangible reform progress. Even Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud visited Lebanon for the first time in over a decade and conveyed optimism about Lebanon’s future under President Joseph Aoun while also emphasizing the necessity of substantial reforms.

While the future is uncertain, Joseph Aoun’s election could be a turning point. His success—or failure—will shape Lebanon’s recovery and determine its ability to emerge from this crisis as a stable and unified nation.

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