by Mr. Alaa Abou Chakra•Published on January 19, 2025

Source of photo: Wikipedia, Lebanese President Joseph AOUN

In the past five years, Lebanon has faced continuous crises and difficulties. A severe economic collapse in 2019 provoked tremendous financial repercussions. These repercussions manifested in; the deterioration of the Lebanese currency value, skyrocketing prices, and the freezing of depositors’ money in the banks. Moreover, Lebanon’s gross domestic product fell by 38% between 2019 and 2024, and a peak annual inflation rate of 221% was reached in 2023 (Loft, P., 2025). Along with that, several incidents overwhelmed Lebanon, exacerbating social and economic pressure: the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosion, and the presence of 1.5 million Syrian refugees, 90% of whom live in poverty (Loft, P., 2025). In addition, the Israeli attacks during the 2023–2024 Israeli-Hezbollah conflict caused the internal displacement of around 20 percent of the population (Yahia, M., 2025). The World Bank estimated the losses at $8.5 billion, of which $3.5 billion was direct damage caused to physical structures. The economic losses were estimated at $5.1 billion, and 166,000 jobs were lost because of the conflict (World Bank, 2025).

Amid all these challenges, Lebanon experienced a presidential vacuum since October 2022. This vacuum ended on January 9, 2025, with the election of the new president, General Joseph Aoun. This election represented, for all Lebanese sects, a true hope for a better future. After five difficult years of crises and instability, this election was considered a historic opportunity to put Lebanon back on track for recovery, progress, and development. However, to understand how the presidential election can be translated into practical development and positive political change, it is essential to examine it through a legal and constitutional lens.

This article will cover the legal framework of the Lebanese presidential elections. It will address the president of the republic’s role, his election process, and his authority and powers according to the Lebanese constitution.

Article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution defines the president of the Lebanese Republic as “the president of the state and the symbol of the nation’s unity, who guarantees respect for the constitution and safeguards Lebanon’s independence, unity, and territorial security under the articles of the constitution.”

The same Article (49) clarifies the mechanism for electing the president. It mentions that the president shall be elected by a secret ballot of parliamentary deputies with a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting and an absolute majority in subsequent rounds. Here, it is important to clarify that majorities and proportions are calculated by counting active voting deputies, not the total number of parliament members (Murad, 2014). Moreover, the presidential term lasts six years, and the same president can only be reelected six years after the end of his previous term. No one can be elected who does not meet the requirements for presidential candidacy. These requirements are identical to the candidacy requirements for parliamentary elections and can be enumerated as follows:

1. The presidential candidate must be over twenty-five years of age.
2. The candidate must be an educated Lebanese citizen, registered to vote, and enjoy civil and political rights.
3. The candidate must have been a Lebanese citizen for at least ten years.
4. A serviceman or servicewoman who holds a “first-class” position must resign from the public service job two years before his or her election.

However, despite serving as head of the Lebanese army—a first-class position—Joseph Aoun’s election was deemed acceptable because he secured over 86 votes, the threshold needed to amend the constitution and bypass this requirement.

According to the constitution, the president’s powers can be divided into two categories: the powers exercised toward the legislative authority (Lebanese parliament) and the powers exercised toward the executive authority (the government).

The powers of the president toward the legislative authority are as follows:

• The President of the Republic, in agreement with the prime minister, can call the parliament’s speaker to hold extraordinary sessions. (Article 33)
• The president of the republic may postpone the convening of the parliament for a maximum period of one month. (Article 59)
• The President of the Republic can, in specific cases, request the government to dissolve the House of Representatives (the parliament) before the end of its term. (Article 55)
• The President of the Republic issues laws within the deadlines specified in the constitution. (Article 51)
• After consulting the government, the president can request a law review within a specified period. (Article 57)
• The president of the republic can refer to the constitutional council to monitor the constitutionality of the laws. (Article 19)
• The president, after the government’s approval, can issue a decree to implement an urgent draft law if it was submitted before 40 days to the House of Representatives and included in its session’s agenda without taking any decision regarding it. (Article 58)
• The president of the republic may propose a review of the constitution. (Article 76)
• Even though the opening of exceptional credits necessitates a special law, in certain circumstances that require urgent expenditures, and based on the government’s decision, the President of the Republic may issue a decree to open exceptional credits. (Article 85)

The powers of the president toward the executive authority include:

• The president of the republic issues a decree that appoints the prime minister after consultation with the speaker of the House of Representatives and based on binding parliamentary consultations. (Article 53/2 and 3)
• The President of the Republic, in agreement with the prime minister, issues a decree that forms the government. (Article 53/4)
• The President of the Republic, in agreement with the prime minister, issues decrees accepting the resignation of ministers or dismissing them after the approval of two-thirds of the government members. (Article 53/4 and Article 69/2)
• The President of the Republic issues a decree accepting the government’s resignation or a decree that considers it resigned. (Article 53/5)
• The president of the republic chairs the Council of Ministers whenever he wishes without participating in the voting. (Article 53/1)
• The president of the republic issues decrees and requests their publication. He has the right to request the Council of Ministers to reconsider any of its decisions within fifteen days after its submission to the Presidency of the Republic. (Article 56)
• The President of the Republic, in agreement with the prime minister, may call the Council of Ministers into exceptional session whenever necessary. (Article 53/12)
• The President of the Republic forwards the draft laws submitted by the Council of Ministers to the parliament. (Articles 53/6 and 10)
• The president of the republic accredits and accepts the credentials of ambassadors. (Article 53/7)
• The president negotiates and concludes international treaties in agreement with the prime minister. These treaties do not become binding unless approved by the Council of Ministers. However, some treaties cannot be concluded without the parliament’s approval. (Article 52)
• The President of the Republic presides over official ceremonies and awards state medals by decree (Article 53/8). He may also issue a decree that grants a special pardon. (Article 53/9)

This legal background is the framework that the president navigates to proceed with his plan and vision. Currently, the elected president Aoun has appointed the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Nawaf Salam, as prime minister. With this appointment, the phase of forming the government has begun. Although the new government has to face numerous challenges, there is great hope that it overcome the multiple crises Lebanon has endured and pave the way for a better future.

References:

1. Loft, P. (2025, January 13). A new President for Lebanon: What next in 2025? House of Commons Library. UK Parliament. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/a-new-president-for-lebanon-what-next-in-2025
2. Mourad, A., Palace, B., & Chouf, L. M. (2014). Caught between constitution and politics: The presidential vacuum in Lebanon. Heinrich Böll Stiftung Beirut, 4. https://lb.boell.org/en/2014/07/04/caught-between-constitution-and-politics-presidential-vacuum-lebanon
3. Ostih, P. (2025, January 8). The constitutional process for electing Aoun as president of Lebanon. Asharq Al-Awsat. https://aawsat.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A/5099289-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86
4. World Bank. (2024, November 14). New World Bank report assesses the impact of conflict on Lebanon’s economy and key sectors: Damages & losses estimated at US$8.5 billion [Press release]. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/11/14/new-world-bank-report-assesses-impact-of-conflict-on-lebanon-s-economy-and-key-sectors
5. Yahya, M. (2025, January 10). Joseph Aoun has been elected President of Lebanon. Diwan: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/01/reaction-shot?lang=en&utm_source=carnegieemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=autoemail