Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi congratulated on Monday his new Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun on his election, expressing Cairo's support to the Lebanese people in the face of any challenges. In a phone call with Aoun, Sisi hailed the consensus reached between Lebanon's various political factions to end the presidential vacuum, stressing the importance of this step in consolidating Lebanon's stability, state-owned news agency MENA reported. Prior to Aoun's election earlier Monday, Lebanon had been suffering from over two years of political deadlock resulting in a vacant presidency, following the end of Michael Suleiman's term in May 2014. Egypt's President expressed his best wishes to President Aoun in carrying out his new role, inviting him to visit Egypt. The new Lebanese President said that he looked forward to enhancing bilateral cooperation in all fields, saying that Egypt represents a major pillar of the security and stability of the Arab world. In August, Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Beirut to discuss ongoing efforts to reach a consensus that would end the power void. After four rounds of voting, including two unexpected repeat votes, Aoun gained the support of 83 lawmakers, giving him the simple majority required to win the election. Aoun, 81, was able to assume the country's highest office after winning support from two fierce rivals, the Christian leader of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea and Sunni former prime minister Saad Hariri. The new Lebanese president, a Maronite Christian, was born in the working-class Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik and pursued a military career before entering politics.
