Michel Aoun

Michel Aoun
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Name	Michel Aoun
Order	13th
Office	President of Lebanon
Term start	2016
Term end	2022
Predecessor	Tammam Salam (acting)
Successor	Najib Mikati (acting)

Michel Aoun is a Lebanese politician who served as the President of Lebanon from 2016 to 2022. He was a key figure in the Lebanese Civil War and has been involved in Lebanese politics for many years, working with various leaders such as Rafic Hariri and Nabih Berri. Aoun's presidency was marked by significant events, including the 2019-2021 Lebanese protests and the 2020 Beirut explosion. He has also been involved in regional politics, interacting with leaders like Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Hassan Rouhani of Iran.

● Early Life and Education

Michel Aoun was born in Haret Hreik, a suburb of Beirut, to a Maronite Christian family. He attended Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour, a Jesuit school, and later graduated from the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in France. Aoun's early education was influenced by French culture and Catholicism, which would later shape his political views and alliances with countries like France and the Vatican City. He also developed relationships with other Lebanese politicians, including Camille Chamoun and Pierre Gemayel, who played important roles in Lebanese politics.

● Military Career

Aoun's military career began when he joined the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1958, attending the Military Academy in Yarze. He later became a tank commander and participated in several battles, including the Battle of Souk El Gharb against the Syrian Army and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Aoun's military experience was marked by interactions with various Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as international organizations like the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. He rose through the ranks, becoming the Commander of the Lebanese Army in 1984, a position that gave him significant influence in Lebanese politics and relationships with leaders like Ariel Sharon and Hosni Mubarak.

● Political Career

Aoun's entry into politics was marked by his appointment as Prime Minister of Lebanon in 1988, a position he held until 1990. He was a key figure in the Lebanese Civil War, leading the Lebanese Forces against the Syrian occupation of Lebanon and interacting with international leaders like George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev. Aoun's political career has been shaped by his relationships with various Lebanese parties, including the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces, as well as regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran. He has also been involved in several Lebanese parliamentary elections, working with politicians like Walid Jumblatt and Gebran Bassil.

● Presidency

Aoun was elected as the President of Lebanon in 2016, with the support of the Free Patriotic Movement and other Lebanese parties. His presidency was marked by significant challenges, including the 2019-2021 Lebanese protests and the 2020 Beirut explosion, which required coordination with international organizations like the United Nations and the European Union. Aoun's presidency also saw interactions with regional leaders, including Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Abdul Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, as well as international figures like Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel. He worked to address the Lebanese liquidity crisis and improve relationships with neighboring countries like Syria and Israel.

● Personal Life

Michel Aoun is married to Nadia Al-Chami and has three children, including Claude Aoun and Chantal Aoun. He is a Maronite Christian and has been involved in various Catholic organizations, including the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. Aoun's personal life has been influenced by his relationships with other Lebanese politicians, including Bachir Gemayel and Amine Gemayel, as well as international leaders like Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. He has received several awards, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour from France and the Order of King Abdulaziz from Saudi Arabia.