Najib Mikati (acting) Azm Movement Joseph Aoun Independent[a] Member State of the Arab League Lebanon portal An indirect election of the president of Lebanon took place from 29 September 2022 until 9 January 2025 to determine the successor of term-limited incumbent Michel Aoun.

If no candidate reaches that threshold, further rounds of voting are held, where an absolute majority of all MPs is sufficient to elect the president.

Initially triggered in response to a rise in gas and tobacco prices as well as a new tax on messaging applications,[6] This resulted in the forkward demonstrations quickly turned into a revolution against the stagnation of the economy, unemployment, Lebanon's sectarian and hereditary political system, corruption and the government's inability to provide essential services such as water, electricity and sanitation.

The government was over 95 billion dollars in debt by the end of 2020,[11] the Lebanese pound lost 70% of its value in six months,[12] and 35% of the active population was unemployed.

It was felt in Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel, as well as parts of Europe, and was heard in Cyprus, more than 240 km (150 mi) away.

[17] It was detected by the United States Geological Survey as a seismic event of magnitude 3.3 and is considered one of the most powerful accidental artificial non-nuclear explosions in history.

Hezbollah's ally, President Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, was no longer the biggest Christian party after the election.

A rival Christian party, led by Samir Geagea, with close ties to Saudi Arabia, the Lebanese Forces (LF), made gains.

[30] The National Pact is based on an unwritten agreement concluded in 1943 between the Maronite Christian president, Bechara El Khoury, and his Sunni prime minister, Riad Al Solh, when Lebanon gained independence from France.

A number of MPs voted "New Lebanon" as in the previous session, while Jamil Al Sayyed wrote "My Condolences" on his ballot paper.

[58] Michel Aoun signed the government's resignation decree, a day before the end of his term, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government remained in office in a caretaker capacity, which was unconstitutional since it went against Aoun's request for the cabinet's step-down after numerous attempts failed to form a new cabinet.

In response, Change MPs, joined by multiple parties, called for consecutive and successive ballots to be held until a president is chosen.

The international community urged Lebanon to pick a new president and carry out the reforms necessary to secure a financial bailout arrangement on numerous occasions.

[75] In February 2023 officials from France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt met in Paris to discuss the presidential vacancy and political impasse that followed.

[77] On 7 June 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron named Jean-Yves Le Drian as his personal envoy for Lebanon to end the political deadlock.

In parallel, an initiative led by independent MP Ghassan Skaff culminated in talks between opposition parties, taking advantage of the growing rift between the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah and the warming of Syrian-Gulf diplomatic relations.

With the support of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, it was announced in late May 2023 that the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb, the FPM and the PSP had agreed to endorse the candidacy of IMF economist and former Minister of Finance Jihad Azour for the role of president.

8 MPs voted "New Lebanon" while 1 ballot for controversial businessman and contractor Jihad Al Arab was cancelled as he is a Sunni Muslim.

[87] Nabih Berri and Hezbollah nominated Georges Khoury, former ambassador to the Holy See, as a secondary option to Suleiman Frangieh.

[88] Leaders of the main opposition Christian Blocs, Samir Geagea and Sami Gemayel, reacted with refusal to negotiate with Hezbollah unless they let go of their primary candidate Frangieh.

[90] On 12 December, Frem officially declared his presidential candidacy; he proposed various reforms, and to implement the Taif agreement and UN Resolution 1701.

[93] Former PSP leader Walid Jumblat reportedly tried to convince Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his bloc to support Aoun.

[101] On 7 January, Geagea said that Hezbollah was the main obstacle to Aoun's election, and that if they were to propose him, the Lebanese Forces would seriously consider his candidacy.

On 9 January, opposition groups including the Kataeb party, the Renewal bloc, and the Lebanese Forces issued a joint statement in support of Aoun.

[28] On 16 December, Frangieh appeared to indicate his effective withdrawal; he admitted that his chances of success had weakened, which L'Orient–Le Jour interpreted as an allusion to the fall of Assad, and said he was open to any other appropriate candidate.

[107] On 20 December, L'Orient–Le Jour reported that after Jumblat's announcement of his support for Aoun, the FPM opposed his candidacy, and intended to publicly reject in the name of "Christian rights".

[101] Saudi Arabia had openly supported Aoun's candidacy in a meeting with Berri, who responded that there was no consensus in his favour.

[109][110] According to a further report, members of the quintet including Saudi, American, and French envoys threatened that Lebanon would not receive any aid or attention unless Aoun were elected; Hezbollah, Amal, and the FPM sought to agree an alternative consensus candidate, but failed to do so.

[112] This was the first session since Hezbollah was greatly weakened in its conflict with Israel and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria; both events influenced the political situation in Lebanon.