Lebanon’s parliament elected Joseph Aoun, the army commander, as president on Thursday, ending a two-year political vacuum and reflecting changing power dynamics in the Middle East. Aoun, who enjoys U.S. backing, secured 99 votes in the second round of voting after Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, shifted their support to him. The election signals a decline in Hezbollah’s dominance following its setbacks in the 2023 Israel war and the toppling of its Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad, last December.

The presidency, reserved for a Maronite Christian under Lebanon’s sectarian system, has been vacant since October 2022. Aoun’s election gained momentum after Hezbollah’s preferred candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, withdrew his bid, with French and Saudi diplomats urging consensus. U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson and other envoys attended the parliamentary session, with Johnson expressing satisfaction over the outcome.

Lebanese lawmakers convene in Beirut on Thursday for a parliamentary session to elect the country’s president.

France called for swift formation of a reform-oriented government to address Lebanon’s dire economic crisis, which has persisted since the 2019 financial collapse. The World Bank estimates the country needs $8.5 billion to rebuild from the recent war. Aoun’s presidency is seen as a critical step toward restoring governmental functionality and securing international aid.

In his first speech, Aoun emphasized that the state must hold the “exclusive right to carry arms,” referencing Hezbollah’s arsenal. As president, he will oversee military deployment to southern Lebanon, part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by Washington and Paris requiring Israeli and Hezbollah withdrawals.

Aoun, 60, has led the U.S.-backed Lebanese army since 2017, maintaining American support to counter Hezbollah’s influence and strengthen state institutions. His election marks a potential turning point for Lebanon’s recovery and stability.