Lebanese lawmakers will on Thursday finally elect a president after more than two years of deadlock, in a much-needed step to help lift the country out of financial crisis.
Army chief, Joseph Aoun, is seen as the frontrunner, with analysts saying he might be the man to oversee the rapid deployment of the army to implement a truce in south Lebanon.
The tiny war-battered country has been without a president since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022.
Many previous attempts to elect a president all failed amid deadlock in parliament between pro-and anti-Hezbollah blocs.
However, a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah last autumn dealt heavy blows to the Shiite militant group, including the loss of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
In neighbouring Syria, Hezbollah has lost a major ally after rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad last month.
With a fragile ceasefire in place in south Lebanon since late November, the 13th attempt at electing a new head of state kicks off at 11:00 am (0900 GMT).
In a country still scarred by a 1975-1990 civil war, the divided political elite usually agrees on a consensus candidate before any successful parliamentary vote is held.
International pressure has surged ahead of the session, including from French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who has been invited to attend the vote.
US envoy, Amos Hochstein, was in Beirut earlier this week urging the country’s lawmakers to make the election a success.
A Saudi envoy also visited Lebanon on Wednesday for the second time in two weeks.
According to lawmakers, who met the Saudi and US envoys, they were given a strong impression that both countries backed Joseph Aoun.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Wednesday said he was optimistic.
“For the first time since the presidency became vacant, I am pleased that God willing tomorrow we will have a president,” he said.
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