President Michel Aoun on Thursday hoped the election of Republican candidate Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States will represent “a new chance for Lebanon and the U.S. to boost their bilateral cooperation for the sake of achieving peace in the Middle East, confronting terrorism, and putting an end to wars and violence through peaceful means.”
“Your election represents a bright hallmark in the history of democracy and in resorting to people’s will in choosing their rulers,” Aoun added in a congratulatory cable to President-elect Trump.
Two prominent officials of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement on Wednesday likened Trump’s election to that of Aoun.
“Two dates America will never forget: 11/9 & 9/11… Two dates Lebanon will never forget: 13/10 & 31/10,” FPM chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil tweeted in English.
He was referring to Aoun’s election as Lebanon’s president on October 31, 2016 and Aoun’s ouster from the Baabda Palace at the hands of Syrian forces on October 13, 1990.
MP Alain Aoun of the FPM meanwhile tweeted that “within two weeks, two unconventional presidential candidates opposed by the traditional political class have won the elections thanks to popular will.”
Aoun eventually deleted the tweet, saying it was misinterpreted and noting that the two figures and two political systems cannot be compared.
Lebanon
