Michel Aoun

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Michel Naim Aoun (born 18 February 1935) is a Lebanese politician who is the current President of Lebanon.

He was elected president on 31 October 2016 on the 46th electoral session of the Lebanese parliament, breaking a 29-month deadlock.

He is a Maronite Christian and the founder of the Free Patriotic Movement. Michel Aoun was appointed as Lebanese Army General (Head of the Lebanese Army) in 1984.

From 22 September 1988 to 13 October 1990, Aoun served as Prime Minister after being appointed by the then departing Lebanese President Amine Gemayel as head of the Lebanese government and interim prime minister.

The controversial decision saw the rise of two rival governments contending for power at that time, one by General Aoun and the other by prime minister Selim Hoss. Aoun declared a "War of Liberation" against Syrian army forces on 14 March 1989.

On 13 October 1990, the Syrian forces invaded Aoun strongholds including the presidential palace in Baabda, killing hundreds of Lebanese soldiers and civilians.

Aoun fled to the French Embassy in Beirut, and was later granted asylum in France where he lived in exile for 15 years from 1990 to 2005. Aoun returned to Lebanon on 7 May 2005, eleven days after the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country.

In 2006, as head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hezbollah, starting a major alliance that has remained ever since.

Despite the bloody history with the regime of Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar al-Assad, Aoun visited Syria in 2009.Aoun was elected a Member of Parliament where he headed the Free Patriotic Movement and the broader parliamentary coalition called Reform and Change Bloc, which had 27 representatives making it the second biggest bloc in the Lebanese parliament.

He presented his candidacy for presidential election with main rival candidates being Samir Geagea, Suleiman Frangieh and Henri Helou.

After his election, he was sworn in as President of Lebanon in succession to President Michel Suleiman.

Early years

With family origins from Haret el Maknouniye, Jezzine, Aoun was born in the mixed Christian-Shiite suburb of Haret Hreik, to the south of Beirut. His father was Naim Aoun who worked as a butcher, while his mother was Marie Aoun, a Lebanese woman who was born in the United States. His family was generally poor.

In 1941, he was forced to leave the house where he was living, as it was occupied by British and Australian forces. He finished his secondary education at the College Des Frères Furn Al Chebbak in 1955 and finished a degree in Maths. He enrolled in the Military Academy as a cadet officer, and graduated as an artillery officer in the Lebanese Army three years later.

Personal life

A son of Naim and Marie Aoun, he married Nadia El-Chami on 30 November 1968 and together, they have three daughters.

The first, Mireille Aoun, who works as his personal advisor and is married to Roy Hachem, the CEO of Aoun's OTV.

The second one is Claudine Aoun who serves as the president of the Arab Women Organization since 2019 and the National Commission For Lebanese Women since 2017, and married to Brigadier-General Chamel Roukoz, a decorated officer who took part in Aoun's liberation war, Nahr al-Bared conflict and Battle of Sidon. He is also a Member of Parliament, elected in the 2018.

The third, Chantal, is married to Gebran Bassil, whom she met at an FPM conference in Paris in 1996. He served as a minister in different cabinets, and succeeded Aoun as president of the Free Patriotic Movement in 2015.

His nephew, Alain Aoun, is a Member of Parliament, elected in 2009 and 2018.

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Military career

Aoun joined the Second Artillery Regiment in 1958 and was sent to France to complete military training at Châlons-sur-Marne. He retired as a soldier the following year and was promoted to Second Lieutenant on September 30.

He was serving during the Syrian Social Nationalist Party's failed coup attempt in 1961 and was praised for it. He was educated at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and became the Assistant to The Commander of the Second Artillery Battalion, the Commandant of the Command and Service Company, and Commander of the Administrative Detachment in 1970.

Aoun, the army's second Artillery Corps, was the commander of the Second Artillery Corps at the outbreak of the civil war. He was an observer in the Battle of Tel al-Zaatar, claiming to have conceived and planned the siege of the camp and its storms. He commanded the attack, which resulted in the destruction of the building and the evacuation of Palestinian refugees. He returned to France in 1978 for further military preparation at École Supérieur de Guerre.

Aoun returned to Lebanon in 1980 and was named interim commander of the majority Christian 8th Infantry Brigade, which is responsible for shielding the Palestinian refugee camp of Borj Al Barajneh from the sinister fate of Sabra and Chatila, as well as fighting the pro-Syrian Druze and Palestinian militias at the Battle of Souk El Gharb during the Mountain War. Aoun's office was on display at the Museum Crossing during the Israeli invasion.

On June 23, 1984, he was promoted to General and appointed as the tenth Commander of the Armed Forces, succeeding General Ibrahim Tannous. He was the youngest Commander since the position was established at the age of 49 years.

Aoun had strong links with Bachir Gemayel and Israel, according to French journalist Alain Mén. He suggested that Aoun proposed to Gemayel by signing a joint recognition agreement between Lebanon and Israel, as well as a joint defense pact, and was led by Israeli officers in his patrols. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Minister of Defense, also attended a meeting.

The outgoing President Amine Gemayel appointed Aoun as Prime Minister on September 22, 1988, 15 minutes before his term came to an end. Six members of the Martial Court, three of whom are Christians and three others are Muslims, three of whom are Christians and three others are Muslims, five of whom are Christians and three are Muslims. Selim Hoss' civilian government was also dismissed by him. The Muslims refused to serve and resigned on the next day. Gemayel accuses Syria of compelting them to do so by claiming that they accepted their positions as soon as he contacted them. He also suggests that he considers the establishment of a cabinet of judges or politicians. He refused to form a political caretaker government and fearing that judges "can't protect themselves," he opted for a military cabinet. Indeed, Amine Gemayel had understood that his own nemesis throughout his tenure, the militia his slain brother Bashir Gemayel had founded, the Lebanese Forces, would also attempt to undermine a caretaker government's authority. Al-Hoss dismissed his dismissal as a result of Syria's and its local allies. In West Beirut, two governments emerged, one civilian and mostly Muslim, led by Hoss as the Acting Prime Minister, the other, military and Christian, led by Michel Aoun as the Interim Prime Minister. Aoun held the additional portfolio of defense minister of defense.

Gemayel's move was of doubtable legitimacy because it broke the unwritten National Pact of 1943, which reserved the position of prime minister for a Sunni Muslim. Gemayel argued, though, that as the National Pact also reserved the presidency for a Maronite Christian, and that if the Prime Minister assumes the powers and duties of the President, it would be appropriate to fill the position temporarily with a Maronite. Following President Bechara El Khoury's resignation, Gemayel cited the historical precedent of 1952, when General Fouad Chehab, a Christian Maronite, was named Prime Minister of a transition government.

Against Geagea's Lebanese Forces (LF) positions around Christian East Beirut, a General Aoun launched an attack on February 15, 1989, with those Lebanese Army Brigades loyal to him (30% of whom were Sunni). With seven people killed and the Maronite Patriarchate's intervention, the LF decided to hand over Beirut's fifth basin's estimated $30,000 per month tax revenue to Aoun. Suleiman Frangieh, a north, has taken over Ras Salaata's port in Batroun District, The following month, Aoun announced a blockade against the unregulated seaports south of Beirut, including Jieh and Khalde. A boat carrying a PSP-controlled port at Jieh was intercepted by Aoun's patrol boats on March 8, 1989. Amal shelled East Beirut harbour and Jouneh port, and Aoun's army brigades shelled Souq El Gharb, triggering a series of indiscriminate artillery barrages. Aoun ordered the closure of Beirut International Airport on March 12 and two days later launched an hour-long bombardment of East Beirut, killing 40 civilians. Aoun declared a ceasefire at the end of the month, but the question of the militia run ports remains unresolved. Over 90 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the area during the worst attacks in three years.

Members of Lebanese National Assembly gathered in October 1989 to sign the Taif Accord in an attempt to end the Lebanese crisis. This accord was later discovered to have been prepared two years earlier by Rafic Hariri. Aoun refused to attend, denounced the politicians who did so as traitors, and announced a decree dissolving the assembly. Aoun also condemned the Taif deal for failing to set a deadline for the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon after it was signed. The assembly voted René Moawad as president in November after it had signed the Taif Accord (in Taif, Saudi Arabia). Despite heavy-handed pressure from Syria to dismiss Aoun, Moawad relented; his presidency came 17 days later, when he was assassinated. Elias Hrawi was elected in his place. After taking office as president, Hrawi named General Émile Lahoud as the army's commander and ordered Aoun out of the Presidential Palace. Aoun was fired because he was dissatisfied with his dismissal.

In East Beirut, General Aoun launched an attack against Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces (LF). More property in Beirut's Christian portion was destroyed by three months of civil war during the previous 15 years of civil war. The LF remained in charge of East Beirut, the harbor, and Kisrawan province. Around 1000 people were killed, and both East and West Beirut were left without electricity and severely contaminated water sources.

The Gulf War had repercussions on Aoun's government. Aoun had pleaded for assistance, but Saddam Hussein, who until 1989 was an ally of the West, was the only one who could give him unconditional support. Hussein's assassination of Kuwait and the United States' formation of a resistance force against Iraq on August 2nd, 1990. Syria's President, Hafez al-Assad, endorsed the alliance, a choice that was rewarded with a "green light" to depose Aoun's revolt. Aoun survived an assassination attempt by a lone gunman in the crowd on the evening of October 12th while giving a public address. On October 13, Syrian forces stormed Baabda's presidential palace. Aoun fled to Lebanese Army Units under General Lahoud, who had pledged allegiance to Hrawi and his government.

Political career

The political figures of the Syrian occupation were elected to serve the elections with the 2000 electoral law, a law that critics argue was introduced by Syrian intelligence chief Ghazi Kanaan and Rafik Hariri, but it does not have a strong presence and marginalizes many groups, particularly the Christian one around the country. Aoun fought against this electoral law choice led by a quadruple alliance led by the Future Movement, the Progressive Socialist Party, Lebanese Forces, and other groups battling the Free Patriotic Movement led by General Michel Aoun. Aoun shocked many observers by entering electoral alliances with a number of former adversaries, including some pro-Syrian politicians such as Michel Murr and Suleiman Frangieh, Jr.

The Free Patriotic Movement in Aoun's province made a good showing, winning 21 of the 58 seats in the first round, including nearly all of the seats in Mount Lebanon's Christian heartland. Aoun has also won major Christian districts, such as Zahle and Metn. Aoun himself was elected to the National Assembly. The FPM did not gain any seats in Northern Lebanon due mainly to the 2000 electoral law that gave the pro Hariri Muslim party a veto over any Christian candidate in its electoral district, ultimately falling short of its aim of maintaining the balance of power between the main "anti-Syrian" opposition party (formerly known to be Syria's strong supporters) led by Sa'ad Hariri (which secured a landslide) and the Shiite-dominated Amal-Mot

The FPM gained 21 seats in parliament and established Lebanon's biggest Christian bloc, as well as the second largest bloc in the Lebanese Parliament.

Michel Aoun and Hassan Nasrallah sang at Mar Mikhayel Church, Chiyah, a church that celebrates Christian-Muslim coexistence, although the church, which is located in the heart of the predominantly Muslim Beirut southern suburb, was preserved during the wars. Given certain conditions, the FPM signed a memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah, which was both coordinating their relations and addressing Hezbollah's disarmament. The release of Lebanese prisoners from Israeli prisons and the elaboration of a defense plan to shield Lebanon from the Israeli threat were the second and third conditions for disarmament. The deal also addressed the importance of having normal diplomatic relations with Syria, the need for details about the Lebanese political prisoners in Syria, as well as the restoration of all political prisoners and diaspora in Israel.

Aoun and his company became members of the March 8 Alliance following this visit.

Michel Aoun announced on December 1, 2006, that the new government of Lebanon had "made misdeed a daily affair" and called for a resigning of the government. Hundreds of thousands of supporters of this group, the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, gathered in downtown Beirut to pressure Fouad Siniora to abdicate, according to the Internal Security Forces (ISF).

Aoun's party officially joined the Lebanese government on July 11, 2008. Members of the FPM, Issam Abu Jamra as Deputy Prime Minister, Gebran Bassil as Minister of Telecommunications, and Mario Aoun as Minister of Social Affairs were elected into office. It's the Movement's first appearance in any Lebanese government.

The 2009 elections gave the FPM 27 parliamentary seats. Aoun from Keserwan won one of them.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri finally gave in in November 2009, after six months of strong political criticism by GM Aoun himself by refusing to be involved in a government that was inferior to the 2008 model. Three ministers were nominated by the Free Patriotic Movement to join Saad Hariri's first government, which will include the ministry of telecommunications, the ministry of electricity and water, and the ministry of tourism.

Aoun and his allies received a third of the cabinet, but no one came close to having veto power. The Hariri government was deposed on January 12 through the resignation of the FPM ministers and their allies, which was a step orchestrated from Aoun's house in Rabieh. A new government led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati saw where Aoun's parliamentary reform and Change Bloc had assumed 10 ministries on June 13.

When the former presidential nominee, Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea and Michel Aoun declared on Monday that intra-Christian ties, the former presidential candidate officially supported Aoun's candidacy on Monday. "I announce after long thought, debate, and deliberations between members of the Lebanese Forces' executive body, our endorsement of [former] General Michel Aoun for the presidency," Geagea said in a joint news conference with his March 8 rival. Geagea read a 10-point summary of the main points of the Declaration of Intent between the LF and FPM in Maarab, where he had spoken with Aoun shortly before the news conference.

The LF and FPM's commitment to the implementation of the Taif Accord, the need to stop the movement of arms and terrorists across the Lebanese-Syrian border in both directions, the ratification of a new electoral law, and compliance with international resolutions were among the main points agreed upon between the LF and FPM, according to Geagea. Geagea paused for a moment to tell a parody as he read the key points of his understanding of Aoun. The LF chief begged Aoun to tell his son-in-law Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to act in accordance with the sixth point of their deal, with humor. Geagea was referring to his interview with the former general over "the need to implement an independent foreign policy that safeguards Lebanon's interests and conforms with international legislation." Aoun expressed gratitude to Geagea for his service and said he would welcome all political parties.

Geagea's formal support for Aoun's nomination could give the former general's presidential campaign a boost, but it's uncertain how the Future Movement will react to this initiative. Aoun met with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, who has consistently expressed his support for measures aimed at cracking the deadlock prior to his arrival to the LF's headquarters. From the Maronite church's seat, Aoun said, "We came to inform the patriarch of the agreement."

Earlier in the day, Rai had met with former Prime Minister and Minister of the Future Movement parliamentary bloc Fouad Siniora. Following his meeting with the patriarch, Siniora reiterated the importance of choosing a president who has the support of all Lebanese factions. Siniora: "We need to choose someone who will unite all Lebanese people from all political parties and foster coexistence among them." After decades of animosity, Geagea's support for Aoun is the first time the country's two leading Christian parties have united on a critical issue.

When his ally Future Movement leader and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri reportedly nominated Marada Movement Chief Suleiman Frangieh, Jr. for the presidency, Geagea, the former presidential nominee on March 14 was taken by surprise. Geagea has steadfastly opposed the contract, which has fueled controversies in both the March 8 and 14 camps.

On the other hand, Aoun had no signs of abandoning his presidential aspirations in favour of Franjieh, a long-serving ally of Hezbollah and a supporter of Aoun's reform and Change parliamentary bloc. As Franjieh sought to obtain the help of its allies, Hezbollah remained stolid over Hariri's proposed settlement for weeks. Hezbollah finally snapped out of media silence on December 29, 2015, when it reiterated its support for Aoun's presidential campaign.

Hezbollah's Politburo Chief Sayyed Ibrahim Amin al-Sayy declared from the seat of the Maronite patriarchate that his party is committed to promoting the presidential bid of its ally Aoun in the first official statement since Hariri's initiative was announced. A year ago, Aoun and Geagea began talks. The talks culminated in a Declaration of Intent that opened the way for a surprise visit by Geagea to Aoun's home in Rabieh in June. Since being tense between the Christian leaders who fought a horrific war in 1990, the Declaration of Intent has brought Aoun and Geagea closer together, bringing an end to the bitter rivalry between the two faith leaders. Since Lebanese politicians failed to reach a consensus president in May 2014, Lebanon's top post has been empty since May 2014.

On October 20, 2016, Saad Hariri publicly expressed his opposition and support for voting Michel Aoun for president, as well as that of his parliamentary bloc. During the parliamentary session scheduled for October 31, Trump's chances of being elected president soared.

Aoun was elected president of Lebanon on October 31 on October 31, 2016, putting an end to a 29-month absence at the head of the state. The 127-seat chamber met for the 46th time on October 31th, following 45 failed attempts to find a quorum for presidential elections by the Lebanese Parliament.

The first round of voting required a two-thirds majority of the house, which means 85 votes out of the 127 member chamber, but Aoun struggled to gain the necessary votes for the round, winning just 85, two fewer than required, while MP Gilberte Zouein was rejected by 36 blank ballots, six cancelled ballots, and one ballot.

After the parliament's secrecy counted 128 envelopes instead of 127, which is the number of MPs registered in the presidential election, the second round of voting had to be repeated three times before ballots were read out loud. An absolute (50 percent plus one) majority of the quorum was required in the second round, requiring 64 votes for election. Aoun was eventually elected after receiving 83 votes. In the second round, 36 blank ballots were cast, 7 ballots were cancelled, and 1 vote was cast for MP Sethrida Tawk Geagea.

*The second and third rounds were postponed because there were more votes than present MPs.

Aoun was quickly sworn in as president, promising political and economic reform and calling for a "real alliance" among the Lebanese political parties that had long been divided. Aoun was escorted to the presidential palace in Baabda, southeastern Beirut's southern suburb, just 26 years after being forced out of it as army commander and interim premier by Syrian forces.

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