Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was declared president of a transition phase on Wednesday, pressing his control over power less than two months after leading a campaign that overthrew Bashar Al-Assad.
The Sharaa was also empowered to form a temporary legislative council during a transition period and the Syrian Constitution was suspended, according to an announcement made by the military command that directed the offensive against Assad.
The decisions arose from a meeting of military commanders who participated in the assault, a campaign headed by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) by Sharaa, a former Alfilia de Al Qaeda.
Going to the conference, Sharaa said that the first priority in Syria was to fill a void in the government “legitimate and legal.”
He also said that civil peace should be preserved through transition justice and prevent revenge samples, that state institutions, among them, are rebuilt military and security forces, and that economic infrastructure is developed.
Sharaa has pledged to embark on a political transition that includes a national conference, an inclusive government and eventual elections, which he could take up to four years to stay.
Wednesday’s announcement did not say when the new legislative agency could be chosen, or provide new details for a timeline for the transition.
Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said the statement had “formalized its status as a strong ruler.” “My opinion is that HTS and Sharaa intend to consolidate the unique Islamist government of the parties.”
HTS emerged from the Nusra front, the affiliate of Al-Qaeda in the Syrian Civil War, until it reduced the ties in 2016.
Qatar welcomes the steps
The statement announced that “Sharaa has assumed the presidency of the country in the transition phase” and that “it would carry out the duties of the Presidency of the Arab Republic Syria, and represent it in international forums.”
The new Legislative Council would carry out its tasks until a new Constitution is adopted. The parliament chosen under Assad last year was formally dissolved.
The statement also reiterated the previous steps that dissolved the Baath party of Assad and its state security apparatus, and said that the rebel groups that fought for 13 years of war had to dissolve and fuse into the state.
The ads arrived at a meeting declared “the conference to announce the victory of the Syrian revolution.”
Ministers of the interim government appointed by HTS attended in December, and was not announced publicly in advance.
Qatar, which supports the new administration, issued a statement after the welcome declaration “moves to restructure the Syrian State and increase consensus and unity between all its parts.”
Mohanad Hage Ali, from the Carnegie Middle East Center, said the announcement was a raw translation of Sharaa’s new power and military control of large parts of Syria, including the capital. “
“It does not reflect the political, religious and ethnic diversity of Syria,” he added. Apparent celebration shots could be heard in the Damascus center shortly after the ads.
