“At last, Lebanon has a new President of the Republic, after nearly two and a half years of a presidential vacancy that had led to emptying the State from its constitutional institutions and had completely crippled the country’s political, economic, national and constitutional life.
“I present my sincere congratulations to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Lebanon General Michel Aoun for his election. I hope that this long-awaited election, which brings back life to the Lebanese State, will be the foundation for re-creating a true and balanced partnership in Power as instated by the Taef Agreement.
“I invite all the parties to go beyond their present political positioning and unite around the new President with positive and sincere energy in order to strengthen the Presidential Seat and insure a successful start for the new mandate. This is an urgent need for all the Lebanese. I have also noted with appreciation the national constants contained in the Oath Speech that form the general directions for the new mandate.”
– Michel Moawad, October 31st, 2016