Beirut: Hezbollah’s Decline Paves Way for Lebanon’s Presidential Election
The weakening of Hezbollah following last year’s conflict with Israel created an opening for Lebanon’s long-deadlocked parliament to elect a president with broad international backing.
Army chief Joseph Aoun was elected on Thursday, ending a two-year political stalemate. His election signals a potential shift in Lebanon’s foreign policy as the country seeks international support to navigate six years of a crippling financial crisis.
For over two years, divisions between pro- and anti-Hezbollah blocs had thwarted efforts to elect a president, stalling progress on securing vital international aid. However, Hezbollah suffered significant setbacks during the two-month war with Israel last autumn, including the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a September airstrike.
The group faced further challenges when Bashar al-Assad, a key ally in Syria, was overthrown by rebels last month.
“Hezbollah’s political defeat mirrors its devastating military losses,” said Hilal Khashan, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut.
Lina Khatib of Chatham House observed, “This marks the first time since the end of Lebanon’s civil war in 1990 that a president has been elected without prior approval from Iran or the former Syrian regime. Hezbollah’s acceptance of Aoun’s election highlights its reduced ability to control Lebanon’s political landscape.”
This political shift reflects broader regional changes, including declining Iranian influence, Khatib added.
The United States, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt had actively supported Aoun’s election, viewing it as critical to stabilizing Lebanon and advancing much-needed economic reforms.
