{{Short description|National government}} {{For|the political system more generally|Politics of Syria}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox presidential government | government_name = Government of the Syrian Arab Republic | image = Emblem of Syria (2025–present).svg | image_size = 160px | caption = Emblem of Syria | date = {{start date and age|8 December 2024}} | jurisdiction = Syria | url = | legislature = People's Assembly | meeting_place = Parliament Building, Damascus, Syria | leader_title = President | headquarters = People's Palace | appointed = | main_organ = Syrian transitional government | court = Supreme Judicial Council, Supreme Constitutional Court |document = Constitutional Declaration | departments = 23 }} The '''government of Syria''' is under a unitary presidential system and, {{as of|2026|lc=yes}}, is in a provisional period led by a transitional government across most of the country. The current President of Syria is Ahmed al-Sharaa, who functions as both the head of state and the head of government. The seat of the central government is located in Damascus, while the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria governs small enclaves in the northern and eastern regions.<ref name="Hawar_conditions_for_integration">{{cite Q|Q136030226|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ANHA_Jordan_meeting_explores_stability">{{cite Q|Q135990184|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Syria summary |url=https://www.britannica.com/summary/Syria |publisher=Britannica |quote=Syria is a unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president, who by law must be a Muslim.}}</ref> Meanwhile, the Administrative Council of Jabal Bashan exercises ''de facto'' autonomous legal and administrative authority in the city of Suwayda.<ref name="ANHA_8point_agreement">{{cite Q|Q133871715|url-status=live}}</ref>
The powers of the three branches are vested by the Constitutional Declaration during the provisional period as follows: legislative power is vested in the People’s Assembly, executive power is exercised by the government under the leadership of the president, and judicial power is vested in the judiciary, which is independent, while judges are subject only to the law.<ref name="newinterimconstition">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic |url=https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318030710/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref>
== History == {{Politics of Syria}} In 1922, French authorities created the Syrian Federation under the Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, and Subhi Barakat was its president.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6486997n/f4.item|title=Arrêtés Nos. 1, 2 & 3 - Bulletin hebdomadaire des actes administratifs du Haut-Commissariat|publisher=BnF Gallica|date=8 October 1922|page=268|language=fr|access-date=22 March 2025|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701154046/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6486997n/f4.item|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="100years">{{Cite web |last=Moubayed|first=Sami|title=From Barakat to Assad: The Syrian presidency in 100 years|publisher=Al Majalla|date=16 December 2024|url=https://en.majalla.com/node/323494/documents-memoirs/barakat-assad-syrian-presidency-100-years|access-date=22 March 2025|archive-date=22 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322212651/https://en.majalla.com/node/323494/documents-memoirs/barakat-assad-syrian-presidency-100-years|url-status=live}}</ref> The federation system did not last, and was replaced as the State of Syria by 1925. Barakat briefly retained the role of president until the beginning of the Great Syrian Revolt that year caused him to resign.<ref name="100years" /> During French Syria, the National Bloc emerged as a major group opposing French rule and supporting Syrian nationalism. During the formation of the 1928 Constituent Assembly of Syria to draft a constitution, the National Bloc had a majority had insisted on several elements that French authorities refused.<ref name="Idea">{{cite book |author=Karim Atassi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSVTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA179|title=Syria, the Strength of an Idea|year=2018|isbn=9781107183605|pages=101–179|publisher=Cambridge University Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402191457/https://books.google.com/books?id=gSVTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA179|archive-date=2 April 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> Afterwards, the 1930 Syrian constitution was ratified without their involvement, which established the First Syrian Republic under the French mandate. French rule continued until the British pressured for a French withdrawal during the Levant Crisis, which they eventually did in 1946.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703995|title=Syria profile|publisher=BBC|date=19 March 2014|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=18 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418084030/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703995|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Post-independence === Following Syrian independence, the political sphere was dominated by two main successors of the National Bloc: the National Party and the People's Party. There were also several coups in Syria in the early years of independence, leading to political instability. In 1958, a Syrian referendum to join the United Arab Republic passed with overwhelming majority,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syrien, 21. Februar 1958 : Bildung der Vereinigten Arabischen Republik|publisher=Database for Direct Democracy|url=https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=sy011958}}</ref> and Syria became part of the UAR until the 1961 Syrian coup d'état restored an independent Syria.<ref name="MiddleEastRecord">{{cite book |last1=Oron|first1=Yitzhak|first2=Aryeh|last2=Shmuelevitz|display-authors=1|chapter=Chapter 18: The United Arab Republic (Al-Gumhuriyah al-Arabiyah al-Muttahidah)|title=Middle East Record|volume=2|year=1961|location=Jerusalem|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vzZ71Eh5QvMC&pg=PA577|edition=1st|language=English|publisher=The Moshe Dayan Center|via=Google Books|pages=577–692|oclc=19956240|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vzZ71Eh5QvMC}}</ref>
=== Ba'athist Syria === {{Main|Politics of Ba'athist Syria}} In 1963, Ba'athist Syria was established following the 1963 Syrian coup d'état, which brought the Syrian Ba'ath Party to power. From 1963 until April 2011, Syria's Emergency Law suspended most constitutional protections justified on the grounds of the continuing war with Israel and the threats posed by terrorists. This ended when president Bashar al-Assad signed a decree repealing this law amidst widespread discontent in the Syrian revolution and Syrian civil war.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3580.htm|title=Syria|access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref><ref>[http://sana.sy/eng/21/2011/04/22/pr-342711.htm Decrees on Ending State of Emergency, Abolishing SSSC, Regulating Right to Peaceful Demonstration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328221640/http://sana.sy/eng/21/2011/04/22/pr-342711.htm|date=28 March 2012}}, Syrian Arab News Agency, 22 April 2011</ref> From 1972 to 2011, only parties in the Ba'athist National Progressive Front were legally permitted to operate in Syria. This restriction ended in 2011 with new legislative decrees regulating political parties<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sana.sy/eng/361/2011/08/04/362192.htm|title=President al-Assad Issues Legislative Decree on Parties law|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060302/http://www.sana.sy/eng/361/2011/08/04/362192.htm|archive-date=2011-08-05}}</ref> and general elections,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sana.sy/eng/361/2011/08/04/362216.htm|title=President al-Assad Issues Legislative Decree on General Elections Law|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060328/http://www.sana.sy/eng/361/2011/08/04/362216.htm|archive-date=2011-08-05}}</ref> along with ratification of the new 2012 Syrian Constitution, which introduced a multi-party system in Syria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sana.sy/eng/370/2012/02/28/401178.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014034300/http://sana.sy/eng/370/2012/02/28/401178.htm|url-status=dead|title=SANA Syrian News Agency - Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic Approved in Popular Referendum on February 27, 2012, Article 8|archive-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> At the same time, the government also disbanded non-Ba'athist militias and sidelined satellite parties of the National Progressive Front by increasing Ba'athist representation in the legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Abdul-Jalil |last2=Moghrabi |first1=Murad |first2=Yamen |date=3 July 2020|title=Al-Assad attempts to boost "Ba'ath" vigor to tighten control|url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2020/07/al-assad-attempts-to-boost-baath-vigor-to-tighten-control/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706222249/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2020/07/al-assad-attempts-to-boost-baath-vigor-to-tighten-control/|archive-date=6 July 2020|website=Enab Baladi}}</ref><ref name="Clapping">{{Cite web |last1=Shaar |last2=Akil |first1=Karam |first2=Samy |date=28 January 2021|title=Inside Syria's Clapping Chamber: Dynamics of the 2020 Parliamentary Elections|url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/inside-syrias-clapping-chamber-dynamics-2020-parliamentary-elections#footnote-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128162146/https://www.mei.edu/publications/inside-syrias-clapping-chamber-dynamics-2020-parliamentary-elections|archive-date=28 January 2021|website=Middle East Institute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lucas|first=Scott|date=25 February 2021|title=How Assad Regime Tightened Syria’s One-Party Rule|url=https://eaworldview.com/2021/02/how-assad-regime-tightened-syrias-one-party-rule/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225110507/https://eaworldview.com/2021/02/how-assad-regime-tightened-syrias-one-party-rule/|archive-date=25 February 2021|work=EA Worldview}}</ref>
=== Fall of the Assad regime === The 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, codenamed "Deterrence of Aggression," were led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported by allied Turkish-backed groups in the Syrian National Army. These offensives resulted in the rapid fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, ending five decades of Assad family rule that began when Hafez al-Assad assumed power in 1971 under the Ba'ath Party following a coup d'état.<ref name="reuters20241207">{{Cite web |last1=Gebeily|first1=Maya|last2=Azhari|first2=Timour|date=8 December 2024|title=Assad gets asylum in Russia, rebels sweep through Syria|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/|url-access=registration|website=Reuters}}</ref> As a rebel coalition moved closer to Damascus, reports indicated that Bashar al-Assad had fled the capital by plane to Russia, where he joined his exiled family and was granted political asylum by the Russian government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 December 2024|title=Syria Live Updates: Assad Has Resigned and Left Syria, Russia Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/08/world/syria-war-damascus|access-date=8 December 2024|work=The New York Times}}</ref> After his departure, opposition forces announced their victory on state television. At the same time, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his resignation and departure from Syria.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2024|title=Bashar al-Assad Granted Asylum in Russia Amid Syria's Political Upheaval|url=https://thegulfobserver.com/bashar-al-assad-granted-asylum-in-russia-amid-syrias-political-upheaval/|access-date=11 December 2024|website=The Gulf Observer|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fahim|first1=Kareem|last2=Morris|first2=Loveday|last3=Loveluck|first3=Louisa|last4=Miller|first4=Greg|last5=El Chamaa|first5=Mohamad|last6=Eski|first6=Beril|date=22 December 2024|title=How Syria's rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/21/syria-rebels-assad-iran-turkey/|url-access=subscription|access-date=22 December 2024|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en}}</ref>
== Political transition == Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the Syrian Salvation Government, stated on Telegram that Syrian public institutions would not immediately be taken over by force and would instead temporarily be held by the Syrian prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, until the full political transition was completed. Al-Jalali announced in a social media video that he planned to stay in Damascus and cooperate with the Syrian people while expressing hope that Syria could become "a normal country" and begin to engage in diplomacy with other nations.<ref name="Interim1">{{Cite web |title=Syria latest: 'The future is ours,' says rebel leader after Assad flees Damascus |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cwy8xzxe0w7t |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2024 |title=Opposition forces impose curfew in Syrian capital Damascus |url=https://www.intellinews.com/opposition-forces-impose-curfew-in-syrian-capital-damascus-357194/?source=syrian-arab-republic |access-date=8 December 2024 |publisher=bne IntelliNews |language=en}}</ref> Jalali also expressed his readiness to "extend its hand" to the opposition.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Michaelson |first1=Ruth |title=Bashar al-Assad reported to have fled Syria as rebels say they have captured Damascus claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/08/bashar-al-assad-reported-to-have-fled-syria-as-rebels-say-they-have-captured-damascus |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
=== Syrian caretaker government (2024–2025) === {{Main|Syrian caretaker government}} [[File:President_Ahmed_al-Sharaa_met_European_Commission_President_Ursula_von_der_Leyen_and_European_Council_President_António_Costa_in_January_2026_(1).jpg|thumb|Ahmed al-Sharaa with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, 9 January 2026]] Al-Sharaa became the country's ''de facto'' leader as head of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the new Syrian administration, and on 9 December, HTS released a video showing al-Jalali and Mohammed al-Bashir, the Prime Minister of the Syrian Salvation Government; following the fall of the Assad government, al-Bashir was tasked with forming a transitional government after meeting with al-Sharaa and al-Jalali to coordinate the transfer of power, and was officially appointed the next day by the General Command of Syria as prime minister of the caretaker government.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Saleh |first1=Heba |last2=Jalabi |first2=Raya |date=9 December 2024 |title=Syrian rebels seek to consolidate control |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1273c8a3-3044-4595-b5c6-6a15c6eeee34 |url-access=subscription |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Mohammed al-Bashir to head Syria's transitional government |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/12/mohammed-al-bashir-to-head-syrias-transitional-government/ |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Der Islamist im Anzug: Wer ist der syrische Übergangspremier Mohammed al-Bashir? |trans-title=The Islamist in a suit: who is the Syrian interim prime minister Mohammed al-Bashir? |url=https://www.diepresse.com/19162965/der-islamist-im-anzug-wer-ist-der-syrische-uebergangspremier-mohammed-al-bashir |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=Die Presse |language=de}}</ref><ref name="defactoleader">{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Ahmed al-Sharaa named Syria's transitional president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d9r0vg6v7o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330170100/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d9r0vg6v7o |archive-date=30 March 2025 |access-date=22 March 2025 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |quote=Ahmed al-Sharaa has been Syria's de facto leader since leading the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 December 2024 |title=Syrian rebels name Mohammed al-Bashir head of transitional government |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/syria/article/2024/12/10/syria-rebels-name-mohammed-al-bashir-head-of-transitional-government_6735906_229.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=Le Monde |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2024 |title=المعارضة السورية تكلف محمد البشير بتشكيل حكومة انتقالية |trans-title=Syrian opposition assigns Mohammed al-Bashir to form new government |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/12/9/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%83%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF |access-date=9 December 2024 |website=Al Jazeera Arabic |language=ar}}</ref> In a televised statement, al-Bashir announced that officials from the Salvation Government met with representatives of the previous government to facilitate the handover of power and that his cabinet from the Salvation Government would assume their corresponding roles in the transitional government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Assigning Mohammed al-Bashir to Head Transitional Syrian Government |url=https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/assigning-mohammed-al-bashir-to-head-transitional-syrian-government.html |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=The Syrian Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=Mohammed al-Bashir to head Syria's transitional government |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/12/mohammed-al-bashir-to-head-syrias-transitional-government/ |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=Enab Baladi |language=en-US}}</ref> On 29 January 2025, during the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference in Damascus, the Syrian General Command appointed al-Sharaa as president for the transitional period after he had served as the ''de facto'' leader following the fall of the Assad regime.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |title=General Command appoints Ahmed al-Sharaa as President of Syria |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/01/general-command-appoints-ahmed-al-sharaa-as-president-of-syria/ |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=Enab Baladi}}</ref> As president, al-Sharaa announced plans to issue a "constitutional declaration" as a legal reference following the repeal of the 2012 constitution of Ba'athist Syria.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Syria's interim president vows to preserve 'civil peace' in first address |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250130-syria-qatar-discuss-reconstruction-during-emir-s-visit |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Syrian transitional government (2025–present) === {{Main|Syrian transitional government}} [[File:Pedro Sánchez asistió a la Cumbre COP30 (11).jpg|thumb|Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Syrian President al-Sharaa during the COP30 summit in Brazil, 7 November 2025]] On 13 March, al-Sharaa signed a Constitutional Declaration for a transitional period of five years, enshrining Islamic law as a main derivation of jurisprudence and promising to protect the rights of all Syria's ethnic and religious groups.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group's rule for 5 years |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-constitution-assad-alsharaa-4caa2074f20155c2399451d9669e435b |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=Associated Press News}}</ref> The Constitutional Declaration sets a presidential system with the executive power at the hands of the president who appoints the ministers, without the position of prime minister.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 March 2025 |title=Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights |access-date=15 March 2025 |publisher=rfi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 March 2025 |title=Syria's Constitutional Draft Set for Release as Fact-Finding Committee Begins Investigations |url=https://www.watanserb.com/en/2025/03/12/syrias-constitutional-draft-set-for-release-as-fact-finding-committee-begins-investigations/ |access-date=16 March 2025 |publisher=Watan News}}</ref> On 29 March, the Syrian transitional government was announced by al-Sharaa at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Damascus,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 March 2025 |title=نص الإعلان الدستوري لسوريا 2025 |trans-title=Text of the Constitutional Declaration of Syria 2025 |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/encyclopedia/2025/3/14/نص-الإعلان-الدستوري-لسوريا-2025 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=ar}}</ref> in which the new ministers were sworn in and delivered speeches outlining their agendas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2025 |title=وزراء الحكومة السورية يقدمون خططهم ويؤدون القسم الدستوري |url=https://www.syria.tv/%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B7%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A4%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=Syria TV |language=ar}}</ref> The government replaced the Syrian caretaker government, which was formed following the fall of the Assad regime.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 March 2025 |title=At protest, Tel Aviv mayor vows to shut down the country if the government ignores a High Court ruling |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-29-2025/ |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> The post of prime minister was abolished.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syrian president unveils transitional government |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/30/syrian-president-unveils-transitional-government |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> On 9 May 2026, as part of a partial government reshuffle, al-Sharaa appointed Khaled Fawaz Zaarour and Basel al-Suweydan as the Ministers of Information and Agriculture, replacing Hamza al-Mustafa and Amjad Badr, respectively.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2026-05-10 |title=President Ahmad al-Sharaa appoints Khaled Fawaz Zaarour minister of information |url=https://sana.sy/en/presidency/2315733/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2026-05-09 |title=President Ahmad al-Sharaa appoints Basel Hafez al-Suwaidan Minister of Agriculture |url=https://sana.sy/en/presidency/2315736/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> The reshuffle was the first since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 May 2026 |title=Syria sets first cabinet reshuffle since Assad ouster, state media reports |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-sets-first-cabinet-reshuffle-since-assad-ouster-state-media-reports-2026-05-09/}}</ref> Al-Sharaa also retained Asaad al-Shaibani as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Murhaf Abu Qasra as Minister of Defense.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2025 |title=President al-Sharaa announces formation of the New Government: We are witnessing the birth of a new phase in our national process |url=https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=350809 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330132130/https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=350809 |archive-date=30 March 2025 |access-date=2 April 2025 |publisher=Syrian Arab News Agency}}</ref>
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== Executive branch == === President === {{Main|President of Syria}} [[File:Ahmed al-Sharaa, President of Syria, in March 2026.jpg|thumb|right|Ahmed al-Sharaa<br /><small>President of Syria since 29 January 2025</small>]] The Constitutional Declaration establishes a presidential system where the president holds executive power and appoints ministers, without a prime minister.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 March 2025|title=Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights|access-date=15 March 2025|publisher=rfi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 March 2025|title=Syria's Constitutional Draft Set for Release as Fact-Finding Committee Begins Investigations|url=https://www.watanserb.com/en/2025/03/12/syrias-constitutional-draft-set-for-release-as-fact-finding-committee-begins-investigations/|access-date=16 March 2025|publisher=Watan News}}</ref> According to the Constitutional Declaration, the President of Syria serves as the commander-in-chief of the army and armed forces.<ref name="newinterimconstition2">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025|title=Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic|url=https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318030710/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2025|access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> According to Article 39, the President of the Republic promulgates laws approved by the People’s Assembly. He has the right to object to such laws through a reasoned decision within one month from the date of their receipt from the Assembly. A law that has been objected to shall not be approved unless it is passed again by a two-thirds majority of the People’s Assembly, in which case the President must issue it by decree.<ref name="newinterimconstition2" /> Under Article 36, the President of the Republic issues executive and regulatory regulations, control regulations, and presidential orders and decisions in accordance with the laws.<ref name="newinterimconstition2" /> Article 3 of the Constitutional Declaration states, "The religion of the President of the Republic is Islam; Islamic jurisprudence is the principal source of legislation.<ref name="newinterimconstition3">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025|title=Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic|url=https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318030710/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2025|access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> Currently, Syria operates under a unitary system, with the president serving as both head of state and head of government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Syria summary|url=https://www.britannica.com/summary/Syria|publisher=Britannica|quote=Syria is a unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president, who by law must be a Muslim.}}</ref>
=== Vice President === {{Main|Vice President of Syria}} [[File:(قصر الشعب (دمشق.jpg|thumb|The People's Palace is the official residence of the president]] Under the Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic, the President of the Republic appoints one or more vice presidents, determines their powers, dismisses them, and accepts their resignations, while the vice president assumes the President’s powers if the presidency becomes vacant.<ref name="newinterimconstition3" /> Since the fall of the Assad regime, the position has been left vacant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loft|first=Philip|date=2026-03-02|title=Syria one year after Assad: Forming an interim government|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10430/|language=en-GB |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref>
== Legislative branch == === People's Assembly === {{Main|People's Assembly of Syria}} [[File:Atassi_2nd_inauguration_Dec_1949.jpg|thumb|Hashim al-Atassi announced as the president of Syria after a unanimous vote in the House of Representatives, the predecessor of the People's Assembly, in December 1949.]] Following the adoption of the Constitutional Declaration, a provisional parliament called the "People's Assembly" was established to serve as the interim parliament during the five-year transition, overseeing the drafting of a new permanent constitution.<ref name="signs">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group's rule for 5 years |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-constitution-assad-alsharaa-4caa2074f20155c2399451d9669e435b |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> The president selects one-third of the People's Assembly members,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250314-syria-s-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights |access-date=2025-03-16 |publisher=France 24}}</ref> with the remaining two-thirds being elected through commissions supervised by a committee designated by the president.<ref name="Ward">{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Euan |date=14 March 2025 |title=Syria Has a New Temporary Constitution. Here Are the Highlights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/world/europe/syria-constitution-new-government.html |access-date=15 March 2025 |publisher=NY Times}}</ref><ref name="temporary">{{Cite web |date=14 March 2025 |title=Syria gets temporary constitution for five-year transition |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70ely2p6e4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315180547/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70ely2p6e4o |archive-date=15 March 2025 |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> A presidential decree issued on 2 June 2025 established the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections. The 11-member committee is responsible for overseeing the formation of electoral sub-committees, which will elect two-thirds of the members of the People's Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-13 |title=مرسوم رئاسي بتشكيل اللجنة العليا لانتخابات مجلس الشعب |url=https://sana.sy/?p=2231640 |access-date=2025-06-14 |publisher=الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء}}</ref>
On 5 October, the 2025–26 Syrian parliamentary election was held in the temporary electoral system as an indirect vote, where only around 6,000 selected Syrians were eligible. 140 members were due to be elected by the electoral college, although only 119 were elected on election day due to postponement in select areas from security concerns.<ref name="shortcomings">{{Cite web |last=Gritten |first=David |date=7 October 2025 |title=Syria acknowledges 'shortcomings' in number of seats won by women at election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vz44zzp5zo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007233810/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vz44zzp5zo |archive-date=7 October 2025 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 October 2025 |title=Syria announces results of 1st parliamentary elections since Assad's fall |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syria-announces-results-of-1st-parliamentary-elections-since-assad-s-fall/3709135 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007234116/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syria-announces-results-of-1st-parliamentary-elections-since-assad-s-fall/3709135 |archive-date=7 October 2025 |publisher=Anadolu Agency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shelton |first=Jon |date=23 August 2025 |title=Syria delays election in Sweida and Kurdish areas |url=https://www.dw.com/en/syria-delays-election-in-sweida-and-kurdish-areas/a-73742611 |access-date=24 August 2025 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 August 2025 |title=Syria delays parliamentary vote in Sweida after attacks |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-865085 |access-date=24 August 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}</ref> President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to appoint the remaining 70 additional members.<ref name="shortcomings" /> The People's Assembly building is currently undergoing renovations since November 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Work is underway ... |url=https://www.facebook.com/reel/1176601834461803/ |publisher=The Syrian People's Assembly |via=Facebook}}</ref> Officials said that the delay in convening the Parliament was due to the need to complete the postponed elections,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-23 |title=Preparations for Syrian parliamentary elections advance in Raqqa |url=https://sana.sy/en/syria/2298481/ |access-date=2026-03-02 |language=en-US}}</ref> which began in February 2026.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |date=24 February 2026 |title=Syria begins receiving applications for electoral body formation in Raqqa |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-receiving-applications-electoral-body-raqqa |work=The New Arab}}</ref> Al-Sharaa said that the first session of the People's Assembly had been delayed as the state preferred to wait until all the elections were completed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2026 |title=President al-Sharaa reviews past year’s achievements, sets state priorities |url=https://sana.sy/en/presidency/2304253/ |access-date=20 March 2026 |website=SANA |language=en-US}}</ref> While in at a meeting in the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Al-Sharaa announced that the People's Assembly will be seated within the month.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-31 |title=الرئيس الشرع: سوريا تمضي بمسار سياسي تدريجي نحو انتخابات حرة وتعزيز العلاقات الدولية |url=https://sana.sy/presidency/2439018/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=March 31, 2026 |title=""Yes, of course..." President al-Sharaa says, in answer to whether #Syria is on track to hold elections after its 5yr transitional period" |url=https://x.com/Charles_Lister/status/2039047149124465074 |access-date=March 31, 2026 |website=X}}</ref>
== Judicial branch == {{Main|Judiciary of Syria}}
Syria's judicial branches includes the Supreme Constitutional Court, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Court of Cassation, and the State Security Courts. Islamic jurisprudence is a main source of legislation and Syria's judicial system had elements of Ottoman, French, and Islamic laws. Syria had three levels of courts: courts of first instance, courts of appeals, and the constitutional court, the highest tribunal. Religious courts handle questions of personal and family law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syria (05/07) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/syria/85051.htm |access-date=15 August 2022 |website=U.S. Department of State |archive-date=22 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722082421/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/syria/85051.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
== International organization participation == {{Main|Foreign relations of Syria}}
Syria is a member of the *Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa *Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development *Arab Monetary Fund *Council of Arab Economic Unity *Customs Cooperation Council *Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia *Food and Agriculture Organization *Group of 24 *Group of 77 *International Atomic Energy Agency *International Bank for Reconstruction and Development *International Civil Aviation Organization *International Chamber of Commerce *International Development Association *Islamic Development Bank *International Fund for Agricultural Development *International Finance Corporation *International Labour Organization *International Monetary Fund *International Maritime Organization *Intelsat *Interpol *International Olympic Committee *International Organization for Standardization *International Telecommunication Union *International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies *Non-Aligned Movement *Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries *Organisation of Islamic Cooperation *United Nations *UN Commission on Human Rights *UN Conference on Trade and Development *UN Industrial Development Organization *UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East *Universal Postal Union *World Federation of Trade Unions *World Health Organization *World Meteorological Organization *World Tourism Organization
Syria's diplomats last sat on the UN Security Council (as a non-permanent member) in December 2003.
{{portal|Syria}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf The Syrian Constitution, 2025] * {{cite web |title=Government of Syria portal before December 2024 |url=https://egov.sy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209011859/http://egov.sy/ |archive-date=9 December 2024 |access-date=10 December 2024 }} *{{Twitter|syr_republic}}
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Category:Government of Syria