Other names circulating include the leaders of Lebanon’s two main Christian parties, Michel Aoun’s son-in-law Gebran Bassil, and staunch Hezbollah opponent Samir Geagea.
Former finance minister and International Monetary Fund official Jihad Azour, acting security chief Elias Baissari, and two lawmakers — Nehmat Afram and Ibrahim Kanaan — are also possible contenders.
Candidates do not need to declare themselves to be in the race.
Wood said 60-year-old Joseph Aoun still needed “to overcome some serious obstacles” to be elected, including lack of support from the top Christian parties.
The Free Patriotic Movement, led by Bassil, “outright opposes Aoun’s nomination,” said Wood.
And Geagea’s Lebanese Forces have not declared their support.
On top of this, “it remains unclear how Lebanon’s fragmented Sunni blocs will vote”, Wood added.
Aoun would need a two-third majority — at least 86 out of 128 lawmakers — to be elected president.
If he or any other candidate fail to garner that many votes, parliament will hold a second round, where a simple 65-vote majority is needed to win.
The constitution stipulates that presidential candidates should not have held high public office for the past two years, which would technically disqualify Aoun.
Parliament speaker Berri, however, has been reported as saying he opposes any constitutional amendment.
If elected, Aoun would be Lebanon’s fifth army commander made president, and the fourth in a row.
Like presidents, military chiefs too are by convention Maronites.
© 2025 AFP
