Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the presidential election session after the first round of voting failed to produce a winner. Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, who has emerged as the leading candidate to become Lebanon’s next president, obtained 71 votes, falling short of the 86-vote threshold.

All 128 Members of Parliament attended the session, meeting the two-thirds quorum required to hold the vote.

Following the casting of ballots in this highly anticipated election, Berri announced a two-hour adjournment, citing the need for additional consultations before proceeding to the second round. This decision drew objections from several MPs, underscoring the contentious nature of the session.

First Round Voting Results

The results of the first round were as follows:
•⁠  ⁠71 votes for Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun
•⁠  ⁠37 blank ballots
•⁠  ⁠14 ballots inscribed with “Sovereignty and Constitution”
•⁠  ⁠2 votes for legal expert Chebly Mallat
•⁠  ⁠4 invalid ballots

Adding an element of surprise, one MP cast a vote for a fictional figure named "Joseph Amos bin Farhan," while another chose Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan.

Later reports from MTV identified MPs Melhem Khalaf and Oussama Saad as the individuals who cast the ballots for Chebly Mallat.

MPs Question Aoun’s Constitutional Eligibility 

A constitutional debate erupted at the beginning of the session as lawmakers voiced differing views on the process and its alignment with the country’s Constitution.

Free Patriotic Movement leader, MP Gebran Bassil, addressing Parliament, pointed out that "the preamble of the Constitution states that sovereignty is exercised by the people, and the Parliament is the institution most closely connected to the people. It is the people, not foreign powers, who exercise sovereignty." Bassil added that "the situation we are facing is shameful and disgraceful for all of us. We do not want the new president to start his term by violating the Constitution. We call on Speaker Berri to announce who is eligible to run and to consider any ballot that does not meet the eligibility criteria as invalid."

“What we have seen in recent days suggests that we have returned to the era of consuls, with foreign instructions being given to certain MPs. The growing support for a specific candidate indicates we are facing an appointment process. This raises a crucial question: does Parliament accept relinquishing its sovereignty under a new foreign tutelage?" Bassil said. 

Deputy Melhem Khalaf joined the debate, stressing that it would have been more appropriate to amend the Constitution before proceeding to the election. 

"I urge you not to violate or suspend the provisions of the Constitution by de facto rule," he said in an address to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. "Let us move toward a state governed by law and justice."

Deputy Jamil al-Sayyed added his perspective, stating, "I have not been pressured by anyone to vote for any candidate. It is unacceptable to elect a president who is constitutionally unqualified." 

Meanwhile, Deputy Ousama Saad called for a return to the Constitution’s principles.

On the other hand, Deputies Firas Hamdan and Paula Yaacoubian also weighed in, criticizing what they saw as selective references to the Constitution. 

"The Lebanese political class does not want a president capable of enacting change. The greatest constitutional violation is the two-year and four-month vacancy, during which Parliament has failed to elect a president, yet still cites the Constitution as an excuse. Joseph Aoun could pose a challenge to the political class and has widespread popular support,” Yaacoubian remarked. 

Hamdan, in turn, questioned the sincerity of those invoking the Constitution, asking, "How can we take seriously the lament over the Constitution when it has been violated repeatedly?"