HRW Urges New Lebanese President to Prioritize Judicial Independence and Transparency
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Lebanon’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun to prioritize judicial independence, accountability, and government transparency, Jurist news reported.
Aoun’s election marks the end of a two-year political crisis that left the country in a governance vacuum. HRW emphasized the need for Aoun to implement a law on judicial independence that aligns with international standards and to combat corruption that has undermined public institutions.
The organization highlighted the importance of accountability for the 2020 Beirut port explosions and the war crimes committed during the 2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. HRW raised concerns about the legitimacy of Aoun’s election, suggesting it may violate Article 49 of Lebanon’s Constitution, which prohibits individuals holding public office from being elected president.
Following the term of former President Michel Aoun, who left office on October 31, 2022, Lebanon’s parliament struggled to elect a new president due to divisions within the ruling party. Joseph Aoun was elected by a significant parliamentary majority on January 11, 2025. Analysts from the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center noted that U.S. and Saudi pressure, along with recent hostilities, contributed to breaking the political deadlock. U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated Aoun, emphasizing Lebanon’s democratic choice for peace and reconstruction.
