Fouad Siniora (acting) Future Movement Michel Suleiman Independent Member State of the Arab League Lebanon portal An indirect presidential election was held in the Parliament of Lebanon on 25 May 2008,[1] after the term of incumbent President Émile Lahoud expired on 24 November 2007 at midnight.

[5] The requested quorum was not formed in the first round (scheduled on 25 September 2007) since opposition MPs boycotted the parliamentary session.

[28] An opinion poll by IPSOS and published on 17 September 2005 suggested that the majority of Lebanese may look favourably at a consensual candidate.

[29] The LAF Chief Commander Michel Sleiman, the Governor of the Central Bank Riad Salame and the former FA Minister Jean Obeid were credited as possible "consensual" candidates.

Sleiman turned out to be the eventual consensus candidate, but his election required constitutional amendments allowing senior state officials to become president.

[30] The term of the ex-president Émile Lahoud was extended for three years in 2004, allegedly under pressure from the Syrian government.

Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in April 2005, after the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri and the subsequent mass demonstrations known as Cedar Revolution.