Lebanese President Michel Aoun, 89, will leave the presidential palace in Baabda today, Sunday, before his constitutional term expires at midnight on Monday, ceding his presidency to the void in a country whose local currency has collapsed and poverty rates have risen for one of the year. of the worst economic crises in the world, according to the World Bank.
Some masses supporting Aoun and his party (Free Patriotic Movement) have been preparing to say goodbye to him in front of the Palace of the Republic by setting up tents since Saturday, and the National News Agency reports that Aoun visited the assembled citizens on Saturday evening. at Baabda Palace to accompany his departure from Baabda Palace and he was accompanied by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement.
The local media heavily criticized the era of President Aoun, most notably NBN, which stated in its preface, “Go, guardian of hell, without regret for yourself, and take your entourage and your son-in-law with you. “.
It is noteworthy that NBN is affiliated with the team of the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, who has a major political dispute with the Free Patriotic Movement.
Parliament failed to agree on Aoun’s successor, who has the power to sign bills, appoint new prime ministers and give the green light to government formations before parliament votes on them.
As was the case for more than half of Aoun’s tenure, Lebanon is now under an interim government, with prime minister-designate Najib Mikati trying to form a government six months ago.
Aoun is a highly divisive figure supported by some Christians who see him as their protector in Lebanon’s sectarian system, but his critics accuse him of promoting corruption and helping Hezbollah gain influence.
Aoun became president in 2016 with the backing of Hezbollah and rival Maronite Christian politician Samir Geagea in an agreement that restored Saad Hariri, a well-known politician of the time, to the post of prime minister.
After that, Aoun’s six-year presidency was marked by the Lebanese army’s fight against ISIS on the border with Syria in 2017 with the help of Hezbollah, the passage of a new proportional election law in 2018, and the start of offshore exploration drilling by major energy companies during 2020.
In the last week of his stay in the palace, Aoun signed an agreement brokered by the United States to demarcate Lebanon’s southern maritime border with Israel.
For some Lebanese, these modest gains pale in comparison to the financial crash of 2019, which plunged more than 80 percent of the population into poverty and led to the largest anti-government protests in modern history.
Aoun’s tenure was also closely linked to the 4 August 2020 bombing in the port of Beirut that killed more than 220 people.
Aoun later said he was aware of the chemicals (nitrates) stored there and told Reuters in an interview on Saturday that his presidential powers were not broad enough to deal with the economic crisis.
Aoun, the son of a Beirut farmer, began his run to the presidency during the 1975-1990 civil war, during which he was commander of the Lebanese army and head of one of two rival governments.
Aoun returned to Beirut after 15 years in exile as soon as Syrian forces withdrew under international pressure following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.
In 2006, Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement formed an alliance with Hezbollah, which provided significant Christian support for the armed group. In an interview with Reuters, Aoun credits Hezbollah for its “useful” role in “deterring” any Israeli attacks during maritime border talks.
