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Aoun advocates “changing the political vision” and strengthening the role of the Army to “prevent Israeli aggression”
MADRID, 9 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The new president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, promised this Thursday to “quickly begin consultations for the formation of a government” and has assured that the country begins “a new phase” after Parliament elected him after more than two years of vacancy. in office after the end of Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022.
“I am going to quickly begin my consultations for the formation of a Government,” he said during his inauguration speech minutes after the vote in the legislature, before betting on “launching a modern and effective administration” in the face of the situation. in the Middle East region, marked by “great convulsions.
Aoun, who is also head of the Lebanese Army, praised during his speech that his appointment as president “is the most important decoration he has received”, has opted to promote coexistence in the country and “change the political vision”, according to reported the newspaper ‘L’Orient-Le Jour’.
“It is necessary to change the political vision regarding the protection of our borders, our economic policies, the conception of the State, development and environmental policies,” he argued, before committing to “preserve the nation” and “protect the freedoms”.
“We are going through a crisis of power, of understanding of democracy,” said Aoun, who also stressed that the authorities must have “a monopoly on weapons”, in reference to the role of the Shiite militia party Hezbollah in the country. especially after the last conflict with Israel, with whom a ceasefire was reached at the end of November 2024.
In this way, he pointed out that “it is necessary for the State to invest in its Army to be able to protect the borders, fight against smuggling and terrorism and prevent Israeli aggression against the territory”, before arguing that he will try to implement “a defense strategy for the State to fight against the Israeli invasion.”
“I promise to rebuild what Israeli aggression destroyed throughout Lebanon,” said the new president, who also elaborated that “there will be no negotiations on the sovereignty or independence of Lebanon” and that “he will work with respect for the conventions.” international”.
Along these lines, he has asserted that he will work to “establish the best relations with Arab countries” and will promote “positive neutrality”, including the “historic opportunity” to start talks with Syria to “fix all problems, especially for respect for the sovereignty of both countries”.
Aoun has thus made reference to the new situation in the neighboring country after the fall in December of the Bashar al Assad regime – backed by Hezbollah, Iran and Russia – due to an offensive by jihadists and rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS ), whose boss is now the ‘de facto’ leader of Syria.
“My mandate will be one of openness towards east and west, towards the international community, based on mutual respect, the sovereignty of Lebanon and the country’s freedom of decision,” said the new president, who has acknowledged that they will implement “numerous reforms” to address the economic and social crisis in which the country finds itself.
“I will work with everyone to protect the rights of the Lebanese. We will show everyone that failure has no place in Lebanon. No community will have privileges over another and no Lebanese will have privileges over another,” the new president concluded, in his first statements. after his election.
END OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VACUUM
Aoun has been elected as the new president of the country by Parliament after more than two years of vacuum in the position following the end of Michel Aoun’s mandate – with no family relationship with the new president – and amid complaints about a possible rape of the Constitution when the chosen one is still at the head of the Armed Forces.
However, several parliamentarians have expressed harsh criticism of the situation during the parliamentary session and have stated that it constitutes a violation of the Constitution, which should be amended so that Aoun can take office, since it is currently preventing the election as president of Any person who has held a position of responsibility during the previous two years.
The vote has gone ahead after twelve failed attempts due to the legislative blockade between the blocs led by Hezbollah and its opponents, which has finally been broken in the midst of the ceasefire agreed at the end of November with Israel and in the face of international pressure to put end to the vacuum in the Presidency, considered key to getting the country out of the deep economic and social crisis in which it has found itself for years.
The system of power distribution in the country contemplates that the president be a Maronite Christian, a community to which the head of the Army must also belong. In fact, Aoun will be the fifth Army commander to preside over the country and the fourth consecutively, after Michel Aoun, Michel Suleiman and Émile Lahud.
Among the main tasks that Aoun must undertake is the appointment of a new Government, given that the current one has also been in office since 2022, also in the absence of an agreement for its renewal. In addition, he must supervise the maintenance of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, while the future Executive will have to apply a battery of reforms demanded by the international community for the delivery of a rescue that allows the authorities to address the worst economic crisis in the world. history of the country.