A fiery exchange erupted in Lebanon’s Parliament on Tuesday, after journalist-turned-politician Paula Yacoubian was verbally attacked by MP Salim Aoun during the first round of voting for the country’s new president.
As lawmakers gathered in the heart of Beirut for the highly anticipated session to elect a new president, tensions quickly boiled over when Yacoubian accused certain MPs of using constitutional technicalities as a mere pretext to obstruct the voting process.
Her critique focused on the refusal of several factions to back General Joseph Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese Army, as a presidential candidate—a position that has ignited widespread debate due to constitutional hurdles surrounding his candidacy.
"The real reason behind the obstruction is that some parties are unwilling to see General Joseph Aoun, the army commander, become president," Yacoubian said during her intervention.
However, her comments were met with immediate criticism from Salim Aoun, a member of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), led by former President Michel Aoun.
An agitated Salim Aoun interrupted Yacoubian’s statement, accusing her of hypocrisy and questioning her political integrity.
"This is out of order," Aoun said. "Paula, you covered for a kidnapped prime minister and now you're lecturing us about virtue."
He continued with a personal attack, calling her "the biggest liar on the political scene" and accusing her of lacking both "honour and morality."
The exchange quickly escalated into a war of words, with both MPs hurling insults at one another. Yacoubian, visibly upset, shot back, exclaiming: "Shame on you!"
The altercation became so intense that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was forced to intervene, instructing his deputy, Elias Bou Saab, to escort Salim Aoun out of the chamber to restore order.
Lebanon has been without a president for over two years, paralysing vital state functions and exacerbating the country’s ongoing economic collapse, which the World Bank has labelled one of the worst in modern history.
The presidential deadlock has been heavily influenced by the candidacy of General Joseph Aoun, a figure widely seen as a unifying force for Lebanon’s embattled military but whose ascension to the presidency is complicated by constitutional limitations.
Under Lebanon's constitution, active military officers are prohibited from running for the presidency, though exceptions have been made in the past.
The legal and political hurdles surrounding General Aoun’s candidacy have sparked fierce debate among Lebanon's political factions, with some backing his candidacy as a stabilising force, while others view his rise as a potential shift towards military rule.
The New Arab has approached Paula Yacoubian for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
In his inaugural speech on Thursday, Aoun vowed to take control of all arms outside state authority and fully implement the ceasefire deal with Israel. He also added he would work to end corruption, interference in the country’s judiciary, and impunity for criminals.