BEIRUT — Backed by most of Lebanon’s major communities and their international patrons, former army chief of staff Michel Suleiman ascended to the presidency of Lebanon on Sunday.
The 60-year-old Maronite Christian general took the oath of office amid high hopes that he would help heal the festering political rift between the U.S.- and Saudi-backed government and the opposition, led by Hezbollah, the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Shiite militant and political movement.
Suleiman’s election by lawmakers, viewed as a temporary fix to a months-long political crisis, came days after Hezbollah gunmen stormed West Beirut and won an agreement that it remain armed and have enough Cabinet seats to veto major government decisions.
Many people hope that Suleiman, with strong ties to Hezbollah and the support of the Western-leaning March 14 movement, will be able to pull the country together.
Los Angeles Times
