The Lebanese parliament concluded its first round of voting on Thursday without electing a new president, leaving the country’s top position vacant for over two years since Michel Aoun left office in October 2022.
Army Chief Joseph Aoun secured 71 votes, while 37 MPs cast blank ballots, according to an Anadolu reporter. With more than 100 of the 128-seat parliament members attending, the first round required 86 votes for a candidate to win, but no one achieved the two-thirds majority needed. A second round is set to be held later in the day, requiring an absolute majority for a decision.
The session was attended by foreign diplomats, including ambassadors of the Quint Committee (Egypt, France, the US, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia), reflecting international interest in resolving Lebanon’s prolonged presidential vacancy. The stalemate comes amid political and security challenges.
According to the Lebanese Constitution, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the parliamentary speaker a Shia Muslim.
