Kerry Lauds Hariri's Role in Ending Presidential Void

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has congratulated ex-PM Saad Hariri on “the role that he played to put an end to the presidential vacuum,” Hariri's office said on Tuesday.

“Ex-PM Saad Hariri received a phone call this afternoon from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during which he congratulated him on the election of General Michel Aoun as president and on the role that he played to put an end to the presidential vacuum,” the office said in a statement.

Hariri for his part told Kerry that he is “optimistic” that the election will “allow a reactivation of state institutions” in order to “confront the various challenges that Lebanon and the Lebanese are facing.”

Aoun was elected president on Monday after around two and a half years of presidential void. His presidential chances had been largely boosted by a key endorsement from Hariri in mid-October.

Aoun's nomination had also received crucial support from Hizbullah and the Lebanese Forces.