Lebanon's presidential frontrunner Joseph Aoun, respected army chief

Lebanese Army chief Joseph Aoun, the frontrunner in Thursday's vote for president, is a political neophyte but is expected to benefit from his position as head of one of the country's most respected institutions.

Widely seen as the preferred pick of army backer the United States, as well as regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, he is perceived as being best placed to maintain a fragile ceasefire and pull the country out of financial collapse.

Analysts say Aoun, who turns 61 on Friday and is considered a man of "personal integrity", could be the right candidate to finally replace Michel Aoun -- no relation -- whose term as president ended in October 2022.

A dozen previous attempts to choose a president have failed amid tensions between Hezbollah and its opponents, who have accused the Iran-backed group of seeking to impose its preferred candidate.

Aoun has since 2017 headed the army, an institution that serves as a rare source of unity in a country riven by sectarian and political divides.

He has navigated it through a blistering financial crisis that has drastically slashed the salaries of its 80,000 soldiers, forcing him to accept international aid to stay afloat.

Since late November, he has been overseeing the gradual deployment of the armed forces in south Lebanon after a ceasefire ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Under the truce, the Lebanese \army has been deploying progressively alongside U.N. peacekeepers in the south as Israeli forces withdraw, a process they have to finish by January 26.

- 'Dedicated' -

The general with broad shoulders and a shaved head has stepped up talks with visiting foreign dignitaries since becoming army chief.

The man of few words should be able to count on his good relations across the divided Lebanese political class, as well as apparent backing from the United States and Saudi Arabia, to see him elected.

Aoun "has a reputation of personal integrity", said Karim Bitar, an international relations expert at Beirut's Saint-Joseph University.

He came to prominence after leading the army in a battle to drive out the Islamic State group from a mountainous area along the Syrian border.

"Within the Lebanese army, he is perceived as someone who is dedicated... who has the national interest at heart, and who has been trying to consolidate this institution, which is the last non-sectarian institution still on its feet in the country," Bitar told AFP.

Aoun was set to retire last January, but has had his mandate extended twice -- most recently in November.

- 'Relations with everyone' -

Mohanad Hage Ali, from the Carnegie Middle East Center, noted that "being the head of U.S.-backed Lebanese Armed Forces, Joseph Aoun has ties to the United States."

"While he maintained relations with everyone, Hezbollah-affiliated media often criticized him" for those U.S. ties, he told AFP.

Washington is the main financial backer of Lebanon's army, which also receives support from other countries including Qatar.

An international conference in Paris last month raised $200 million to support the armed forces.

The military has been hit hard by Lebanon's economic crisis, and at one point in 2020 it said it had cut out meat from the meals offered to on-duty soldiers due to rising food prices.

Aoun, who speaks Arabic, French and English, hails from Lebanon's Christian community and has two children.

By convention, the presidency goes to a Maronite Christian, the premiership is reserved for a Sunni Muslim and the post of parliament speaker goes to a Shiite Muslim.

If elected, Aoun would be Lebanon's fifth army commander to become president, and the fourth in a row.

Military chiefs, by convention, are also Maronites.