Only three presidents whose mandate was extended or renewed: President Beshara Khoury before the Taef agreement and Presidents Elias Hrawi and Emile Lahoud post-Taef.

The mandate of the first post-independence President of Lebanon Beshara Khoury who took office on September 21, 1943 was renewed for 6 years following a parliamentary session for renewal on May 27, 1949.

However the first renewal lasted for almost 3 years, because suspicions of corruption in Khoury's administration provoked massive demonstrations which forced him to resign on September 20, 1952.

Terms of two presidents Elias Hrawi and Emile Lahoud were extended after the Taef. Both extensions were covered, or rather ordered by Syria during the Syrian colony.

Elias Hrawi was elected on November 24, 1989, only two days following the assassination of late president René Mouawad. He could not officially take office only after the invasion of Syrian army to force Gen. Michel Aoun out in October 13, 1990.

Since his term was not complete, Hrawi asked late Syrian President Hafez Assad to renew his mandate for six additional years, however Assad only approved three. 

The Parliament adjusted the Constitution in October 19, 1995 and approved the extension of Hrawi for 3 years garnering majority of 110 votes, due to the Syrian pressure.

President Elias Hrawi therefore was the first president to rule the country for 9 years, his term ended in November 23, 1998.

The successor of Hrawi was Emile Lahoud, who was elected in October 24, 1994 following an adjustment in the Constitution since he was the Lebanese Army commander, his term was extended for 3 years in September 3, 2004 despite the opposition.

Lahoud remained in power until "the last moment", according to his words, and did not quit the presidential palace until November 24 in 2007, leaving the post in void for 6 months.

In Lebanon's History, two presidents were asked to renew or extend their terms but they rejected: Fouad Shehab and Elias Sarkis despite the popular demand and the foreign support they have garnered.

Today President Michel Suleiman publicly rejects the extension, so is this option excluded? Will the void be the successor of Suleiman to make the same scenario go on from predecessor to successor?