President Nabih Berri won a seventh term as president of the parliamentary council after receiving 65 votes, compared to 40 blank ballots and 23 invalid votes. This occurred despite the chaos that ensued when a number of MPs insisted on reading the names listed on the invalid ballots, which President Berri refused. The 19 votes from the Lebanese Forces MPs included "The Strong Republic" on their ballots to emphasize that they did not vote for Berri, following their announcement of a surprise they were preparing during the session.
The invalid ballots contained the following messages: Justice for the victims of the Beirut port explosion, victims of the Beirut port, justice for the wounded of the revolution against the Parliament's police, justice for the council's police victims, justice for Lebanon, justice for the martyrs of death boats, justice for depositors, justice for raped women, justice as the nation's uplift, justice for Loukan Slim, "The Strong Republic," and Imam Musa Sadr.
After the election, Berri thanked "the colleagues who opposed my election as president, whether by voting with a blank ballot or by choosing a name outside the usual context or by voting with a 'zigzag' approach. I will respect all these points and leave behind any offense, and we will respond to the blank ballot with a white heart and sincere intent." He added: "I am aware, and you are aware with me, that in these difficult moments Lebanon is going through, any talk not addressing the pain and needs of the people, and any plans, promises, and programs that do not provide solutions to the crises, is outside the context."
He continued: "Today's session will only be an appetizer for the challenges awaiting the council, but it may be useful for the MPs and blocks to realize through it the scale of the challenges they face, especially since the weapon of obstruction will only lead to a major crime against the nation that is on the brink." He called for "adhering to the collective national will represented by the concerns and hopes of the people for change, and 'no' to a council that deepens the divisions among Lebanese, and 'no' to vacancies in any authority, and a bold 'yes' without equivocation for the transition from a state of quotas to a state of citizenship, institutions, and a civil state."
He also called to fully preserve the rights of depositors and to enact and implement all laws related to combating corruption and waste and recovering stolen funds, emphasizing that disagreements and competition should be for the betterment of Lebanon and the Lebanese, and looking forward to national challenges under the ongoing title of "Unity of Lebanon."
As a result of the second round, Elias Bou Saab became vice president of the council after receiving 65 votes against 60 votes for Ghassan Skaf, with 2 blank ballots and one invalid ballot. The results of the first round were as follows: 64 votes for Elias Bou Saab, 49 for Ghassan Skaf, 13 blank ballots, and two invalid.
