Syria Syrian head of state: presidential election in four to five years
According to the interim head of state, the first presidential election after the change of power in Syria will not take place for another four to five years. In his first interview on Syrian television after his appointment, Ahmed al-Sharaa made vague statements about the country's political future.
03.02.2025, 20:06
SDA
The future government will represent Syria, but will primarily be based on the competence of individuals, said al-Sharaa. "The country has no law to regulate political parties. I am trying to save Syria from quotas." After more than a decade of civil war, the country is politically fragmented and divided along sectarian lines. Al-Sharaa evaded further questions from the television journalists.
He also stated that he would first concentrate on reforming the Syrian economy. The interim president said that the corruption of the old government had severely impaired the economic situation. "We need to reform many institutions in order to create a successful economy and make the country attractive for investment." The aim is also for many Syrians to decide to return to their country.
More than eight weeks ago, a rebel alliance led by the Islamist organization Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sharaa, formerly known by his battle name Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, led the HTS. Since the change of power, the former commander has adopted an emphatically moderate stance. The transitional government was largely formed from former HTS officials.
