Michel Naim Aoun (Arabic: ميشال نعيم عون‎, romanized: Mīšāl Naʿīm ʿAwn, Arabic pronunciation: [miːʃeːl ʕo.uːn]; born 30 September 1933) is a Lebanese politician who serves as the President of Lebanon since 31 October 2016. In exile, he founded the Free Patriotic Movement, and advocated for the Syria Accountability Act by testifying in Congress. In 2005, a chain of widespread demonstrations triggered by the assassination of Rafic Hariri erupted in Lebanon, resulted in the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country. On 7 May, Aoun returned to Lebanon.