2008 Lebanese presidential election

2008 Lebanese presidential election

25 May 2008
 
Nominee Michel Suleiman
Party Independent
Electoral vote 118
Percentage 92.19%

President before election

Fouad Siniora (acting)
Future Movement

Elected President

Michel Suleiman
Independent

An indirect presidential election was held in the Parliament of Lebanon on 25 May 2008, after the term of incumbent President Émile Lahoud expired on 24 November 2007 at midnight. General Michel Sleiman, the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, was elected as the consensus candidate after months of delays in holding the election due to an ongoing political dispute.

By convention, the presidency is always attributed to a Maronite Christian personality. Under the article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution, a qualified majority of two-thirds of the members of the 128-seat Lebanese Parliament is required to elect the president. After the second round of election, the president is elected by an absolute majority of 65 MPs out of 128.