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After a heated parliamentary debate, army chief Joseph Aoun was on Thursday elected as Lebanon’s president, more than two years after the post was last occupied. This is not the first time the head of the military has become the country’s president — this was also the case with Emile Lahoud and Michel Suleiman. Even Aoun’s predecessor, Michel Aoun (no relation), was formerly in the military role, but well before the start of his presidency.

Despite this being positive news, Lebanon now needs to break free of the cycles of the past that have drowned it in chaos and mediocrity. The new president needs to ask some tough questions: How can his mandate change the situation in Lebanon for the better? How can he make sure to enhance people’s daily lives? How can he reduce security risks? How can he turn around the economic situation? How can he rebuild the country and keep it this way? This is not his responsibility alone and now we can also add to the mix the need for a prime minister, but the questions will still be the same. One thing is certain: keeping the old system afloat will leave Lebanon as a small ship lost at sea, being hit by waves and navigating aimlessly.

This is why Joseph Aoun needs to be courageous enough to push ahead with an agenda of transforming the country. There needs to be a new vision, strategy and political roadmap. If his election was once again a result of a regional equilibrium, the switch needs to happen so that foreign support and collaborations are solicited for the building of the state and not to solve domestic problems. Regional actors understand this need more than international ones and know that this is the real change that is expected. The “Libanization” of the political process is the slogan to follow.

Hence, Aoun needs to propose a national dialogue for the transformation of the country. The status quo in the operation of the institutions needs to be stopped. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the state and the way it serves its people. Lebanon needs a new constitution and better management of the state apparatus.

The new president needs to be courageous enough to push ahead with an agenda of transforming the country

Khaled Abou Zahr

It is more the symbol of the president that is needed than its actual constitutional role. A president who will do the same as his predecessors will be leading the country over the precipice. Hence, Aoun should initiate a national dialogue and present real plans for reform, focusing on constitutional and structural changes. This must start with the security and geopolitical stability of the country. This is why sovereignty needs to be reasserted.

Regardless of the deadlines and the outcome of the military confrontation with Israel, Hezbollah still has enough weapons to continue threatening the Lebanese. It is even, as expected, hinting at a repeat of May 7, 2008, when its forces invaded Beirut, if the political pressure increases. This cannot be permitted to happen again, simply because, this time, the reaction will come from beyond the borders of Lebanon and will lead to a sectarian conflict of extreme violence. It will throw Lebanon into a no-man’s-land of military confrontation.

Moreover, Lebanon can no longer claim or say that it is a hostage of Hezbollah. The new president, as a symbol of the country, will need to rally the population to massively push the demand that Hezbollah immediately disarms. Reminiscent of the great crowds that forced the Syrian military out in 2005, it is time to finish the job and eradicate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ influence in Lebanon. This is a historic opportunity.

It is also urgent to do so. I recently watched a viral social media clip of Lebanese children from different minorities debating about the country. From all sides, these children are being robbed of their childhoods and thrown into confrontation and biased thinking. It is another generation that is being pushed to the edge. Notably, the most worrying element is the indoctrination and recruitment of youth that is being pushed by Hezbollah. The minorities that constitute Lebanon are so entrenched in their own culture that it has become difficult to envision a nation. And this truth came from these children.

Aoun should initiate a national dialogue and present real plans for reform, focusing on constitutional and structural changes

Khaled Abou Zahr

When watching this clip, I felt sad for a child who had lost his father, who was part of Hezbollah, and had been brainwashed into saying that his goal was to be a martyr and that he was already undergoing military training. How can we let this dangerous indoctrination happen? How can we let our children see death as an objective of life? We need to stop allowing extremism to be taught and be the culture of the country. A transformation into pursuing happiness and prosperity needs to take place.

We can say whatever we want, but ultimately Lebanon’s failure is our fault and no one else’s. No longer can we hide behind geopolitical shifts or find excuses in being the confrontation playground of international powers. This is the time to change how the country shapes its future. We are at a crossroads and this time we can either hold our mandate or let it slip away like in the past.

This is the most important mission that Joseph Aoun should initiate. The mission is to bring the people together for the true independence of Lebanon and to defeat the enemies from outside and within who do not want to see this happen. I believe this is a make-or-break situation — yes, it can always get worse — for the country. International powers need to support this transformation and no other. I hope that, when we listen to children 10 or 15 years from now, they will have been granted the simple right of being children and nothing else. Moreover, the cedar flag will have their sole and exclusive loyalty.

• Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused investment platform. He is CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.