Syria will have a new government by March 1, the nation’s Foreign Minister announced, without specifying an election date. The government has been run on an interim basis since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Shaibani said, “The government that will be launched on March 1 will as much as possible express the Syrian people and take into account its diversity.”
Rebel forces who spearheaded the rebellion since the ousting of Assad formed an interim government led by Mohammad al-Bashir. Last month, Islamists group leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, a leading figure in the rebellion, was appointed interim president. He was charged with constructing a transitional parliament after the parliament under Assad was dissolved and the Baath Party, which had dominated Syrian politics for decades, was disbanded.
As part of the transition, HTS and other armed rebel factions were officially disbanded, with members to be integrated into a future national security force.
Despite the advances, the timeframe for democratic elections is uncertain. In an interview last week, Sharaa suggested that five years would be required to prepare for an election. Meanwhile, the new leadership vowed to hold a national dialogue conference, with the aim of involving all Syrians in deciding the political direction of the country. But no conference date has been set.
Syria’s reshaped political landscape is a significant departure after the years of war, but work continues to establish long-term governance and national unity.
