Lebanese Parliament elected on Monday a major political figure as the new President of the Republic after more than two years and a half of vacuum.
Born in Haret Hreik on18 Feb 1935, Michel Naim Aoun went to Freres Institute in Jemmaize for his elementary and secondary classes.
He is fluent in Arabic, French, English, Spanish and Italian, and got married in 1968 to Mrs. Nadia Al-Shami and had 3 daughters
In late 1955, Michel Aoun went the Military Academy as an Officer Cadet and graduated after years as a Lieutenant.
He moved within the military service between several posts, starting from Platoon Commander, Battalion Commander and Brigade Commander, until he was appointed as the Army Commander on June 23, 1984.
In 1988, Aoun was tasked to form a military government after the attempts had failed to elect a President as a successor of the outgoing President at the time Amin Al-Jmayyel.
That era witnessed what it was called “Cancellation War” between the Aoun-led army and Samir Geagea-led Lebanese Forces party.
In 1990, Aoun fled to Paris at the end of a long war against the Syrian army called “War of Liberation”.
From Paris, Aoun led his popular support, and returned back to Lebanon in May 2005. when he ran for the Parliamentary elections and presided the largest Christian bloc in the Parliament.
Aoun sought mutual understanding with different Lebanese factions, and signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah in Feb. 2006, which contributed to the protection of Lebanon in several political and security situations.
Upon the end of the late president’s era in 2014, General Aoun nominated himself anew for the presidency of the Republic, but was faced with the rejection of March 14 bloc.
However, after 29 months of vacuum, doors of Baabda Palace are open for the new president: General Michel Aoun.
Source: Al-Manar TV
