List of presidents of Lebanon explained

This is a list of presidents of Lebanon since the creation of the office in 1926.

Constitutionally (de jure), the president's post carries significant responsibilities and influence. In practice, the president is largely a ceremonial and symbolic post due to external pressure or the formation of "consensus" cabinets, forcing the president to compromise. In theory, however, the president is responsible for appointing the entire government, therefore the ministers should work to his pleasure. Nevertheless, the president is still able to exercise influence on policy-making and has the role, in conjunction with the prime minister, of choosing ministers in the Government and safeguarding the Constitution of Lebanon.

National Pact

Though it is not specifically stated in the constitution, an unwritten understanding known as the National Pact, agreed in 1943, has resulted in the holder of the post being a Maronite Christian in every electoral cycle since that time.

List of officeholders

State of Greater Lebanon, part of the French Mandate (1926–1943)

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Political party		Notes
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party		Notes
1		Charles Debbas Arabic: شارل دباس	1 September 1926	2 January 1934		Independent
1		Charles Debbas Arabic: شارل دباس	1926, 1929			Independent
—		Privat-Antoine Aubouard Arabic: أنطوان أوبوار	2 January 1934	30 January 1934		Independent
2		Habib Pacha Saad Arabic: حبيب باشا السعد	30 January 1934	20 January 1936		Independent
3		Émile Eddé Arabic: إميل أده	20 January 1936	4 April 1941			National Bloc
3		Émile Eddé Arabic: إميل أده	1936				National Bloc
—		Pierre-Georges Arlabosse Arabic: بيار جورج أرلابوس	4 April 1941	9 April 1941		Independent
4		Alfred Georges Naccache Arabic: ألفرد جورج النقاش	9 April 1941	18 March 1943			Kataeb Party
—		Ayoub Tabet Arabic: أيوب تابت	19 March 1943	21 July 1943		Independent
5		Petro Trad Arabic: بيترو طراد	22 July 1943	21 September 1943		Independent
6		Bechara Khoury Arabic: بشارة الخوري	21 September 1943	11 November 1943			Constitutional Bloc

Lebanese Republic (1943–present)

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Political party		Notes
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party		Notes
—		Émile Eddé Arabic: إميل أده	11 November 1943	22 November 1943			National Bloc
1		Bechara Khoury Arabic: بشارة الخوري	22 November 1943	18 September 1952			Constitutional Bloc
1		Bechara Khoury Arabic: بشارة الخوري	1943, 1948				Constitutional Bloc
—		Fouad Chehab Arabic: فؤاد شهاب	18 September 1952	22 September 1952			Military
2		Camille Chamoun Arabic: كميل شمعون	23 September 1952	22 September 1958			Constitutional Bloc
			23 September 1952	22 September 1958			National Liberal Party
			1952				National Liberal Party
3		Fouad Chehab Arabic: فؤاد شهاب	23 September 1958	22 September 1964		Independent
3		Fouad Chehab Arabic: فؤاد شهاب	1958			Independent
4		Charles Helou Arabic: شارل حلو	23 September 1964	22 September 1970			Chehabist
4		Charles Helou Arabic: شارل حلو	1964				Chehabist
5		Suleiman Frangieh Arabic: سليمان فرنجية	23 September 1970	22 September 1976			Marada Movement
5		Suleiman Frangieh Arabic: سليمان فرنجية	1970				Marada Movement
6		Élias Sarkis Arabic: إلياس سركيس	23 September 1976	22 September 1982			Chehabist
6		Élias Sarkis Arabic: إلياس سركيس	1976				Chehabist
7		Bachir Gemayel Arabic: بشير الجميل	23 August 1982	14 September 1982			Kataeb Party
7		Bachir Gemayel Arabic: بشير الجميل	1982				Kataeb Party
8		Amine Gemayel Arabic: أمين الجميل	23 September 1982	22 September 1988			Kataeb Party
8		Amine Gemayel Arabic: أمين الجميل	1982				Kataeb Party
—		Selim Hoss Arabic: سليم الحص	22 September 1988	5 November 1989		Independent
—		Michel Aoun Arabic: ميشال عون	22 September 1988	13 October 1990			Military
Second Lebanese Republic
9		René Moawad Arabic: رينيه معوض	5 November 1989	22 November 1989		Independent
9		René Moawad Arabic: رينيه معوض	1989			Independent
Vacant from 22 November 1989 until 24 November 1989
10		Elias Hrawi Arabic: إلياس الهراوي	24 November 1989	24 November 1998	years	Independent
10		Elias Hrawi Arabic: إلياس الهراوي	1989			Independent
11		Émile Lahoud Arabic: إميل لحود	24 November 1998	24 November 2007	years	Independent
11		Émile Lahoud Arabic: إميل لحود	1998			Independent
Vacant from 24 November 2007 until 25 May 2008^[1]
12		Michel Suleiman Arabic: ميشال سليمان	25 May 2008	25 May 2014	years	Independent
12		Michel Suleiman Arabic: ميشال سليمان	2008			Independent
Vacant from 25 May 2014 until 31 October 2016^[2]
13		Michel Aoun Arabic: ميشال عون	31 October 2016	31 October 2022	years		Free Patriotic Movement
13		Michel Aoun Arabic: ميشال عون	2014–2016				Free Patriotic Movement
Vacant since 31 October 2022

Notes and References

Web site: 2007-11-24 . Lebanon President Steps Down without Successor . 2022-11-04 . Outside the Beltway . en . 2022-11-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104155131/https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/lebanon_president_steps_down_without_successor/ . live .
News: Malas . Nour . Polarized Lebanon Left Without President as Sleiman's Term Expires . 2022-11-04 . Wall Street Journal . 25 May 2014 . en-US . 2014-05-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140525092939/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303749904579583032940250584.html . live .