Ahmed al-Sharaa consolidates his hold on power after being named Syria’s interim president

The assault that overthrew Bashar al-Assad was directed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has now solidified his position as Syria’s interim president.

Less than two months after spearheading a campaign that overthrew Bashar al-Assad, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria and leader of the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), became president for a transitional period, solidifying his power.

In addition to suspending the Syrian constitution, the military command that spearheaded the campaign against Assad said that Sharaa had the authority to establish a provisional legislative council. The last parliament was formally disbanded after it was elected under Assad.

The choices were made by a group of military leaders that participated in the attack. Speaking during the conference, Sharaa stressed the importance of filling the political void “legitimately and legally” while outlining his goals for Syria’s future.

In order to prevent acts of retaliation, he underlined the significance of maintaining civic peace through transitional justice.

He also demanded the growth of the nation’s economic infrastructure and the restoration of state institutions, especially the armed forces and security forces.

The political transition, which Sharaa has promised to lead, may take up to four years and entail a national congress, the establishment of an inclusive government, and ultimately elections.

However, neither a precise timeframe for the transfer nor the establishment date of the new parliamentary body were mentioned in Wednesday’s declaration.

The pronouncement “formalized his status as the strongman ruler,” according to Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. “My understanding is that Sharaa and HTS want to strengthen one-party Islamist rule,” he continued.

Formerly known as the Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the Syrian civil war until severing connections in 2016, HTS led the military campaign against Assad.

“Carry out the duties of the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic and represent it in international forums,” the declaration said of Sharaa.

Until a new constitution is ratified, the new legislative council is anticipated to continue operating.

The proclamation also reaffirmed previous actions to disband Assad’s state security system and Baath Party. It also calls for the disbandment and integration of rebel groups that have fought Assad for the last 13 years into state troops.

During a gathering called “The Conference for Announcing the Victory of the Syrian Revolution,” ministers from the HTS-appointed transitional government in December attended the announcements.

The event wasn’t announced to the public in advance.

In a statement, Qatar, a major supporter of the new government, praised the action and praised efforts “to restructure the Syrian state and boost consensus and unity among all its parties.”

Analysts, however, are worried about the new leadership’s course in Syria. The announcement, according to Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center, was “a raw translation of Sharaa’s newfound power and military control of great parts of Syria, including the capital.”

The political, religious, and cultural diversity of Syria is not reflected in it, he said.