Lebanon’s parliament on Monday chose Michel Aoun, a former army commander, to be the country’s president. Aoun needed 65 votes, and received 83. The decision ends a 29-month political stalemate and paves the way for Saad al-Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, to become the country’s prime minister. Aoun, 81, had the backing of Hariri. Under Lebanon’s parliamentary system, the president is now tasked with meeting with its members to determine which individual has the largest backing in order to be chosen for the job of prime minister.
