Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been declared president for a transitional phase tightening his hold on power less than two months after he led a campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad.
Sharaa is also empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional period and the Syrian constitution was suspended, according to an announcement made by the military command which led the offensive against Assad.
The decisions emerged from a meeting of military commanders who took part in the assault, a campaign spearheaded by Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.
Addressing the conference, Sharma said the priority in Syria was to fill a vacuum in government “legitimately and legally”.
He also said civil peace must be preserved through transitional justice and preventing displays of revenge, that state institutions — foremost among them military and security forces — be rebuilt, and that economic infrastructure be developed.
Sharma has pledged to embark on a political transition including a national conference, an inclusive government, and eventual elections, which he has said could take up to four years to hold.
Wednesday’s announcement did not say when the new legislative body might be picked, or provide any new details for a timeline for the transition.
Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, said the declaration had “formalized his status as the strongman ruler”.
My take is that HTS and Sharaa intend to consolidate single-party rule,” Gerges added.
