Macron to visit Lebanon after election of new president Aoun

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday welcomed the “crucial election” by Lebanese lawmakers of army chief Joseph Aoun as president and said he would soon visit the country.

Macron spoke with the general hours after Aoun was announced as the leader to end a two-year vacuum in the country’s top post.

France “will continue to be at the side of Lebanon and its people,” Macron told Aoun in a telephone call, the French presidency said in a statement. Macron said he would go to Lebanon “very soon”.

“Congratulations to President Joseph Aoun on this crucial election,” Macron wrote on X earlier.

“It paves the way for reform and the restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty and prosperity,” he added.

Aoun must oversee a ceasefire in Lebanon after a war between Israel and Hezbollah killed over 4,000 Lebanese and destroyed significant infrastructure. Aoun must also name a prime minister able to lead reforms demanded by international creditors to save the country from a severe economic crisis.

“The head of state indicated to President Aoun that France would support his efforts to quickly complete the formation of a government capable of uniting the Lebanese, answering their aspirations and their needs, and carrying out the reforms necessary for the economic recovery, reconstruction, security and sovereignty of Lebanon,” said the statement released after the telephone talks.

Macron also vowed support for the “national dialogue” that Aoun said he will launch and called on all groups to “contribute to the success of his mission”, the statement said.

France administered Lebanon for two decades after World War I and has maintained close ties even since its independence in 1944.