Syria’s New Leadership Suspends Constitution During Three-Month Transition
This handout image made available by the Telegram channel of the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's new transitional prime minister Mohammad al-Bashir chairing a meeting of the new cabinet in Damascus on December 10, 2024 ©STRINGER / SANA / AFP

Syria’s new leadership will "freeze the Constitution and Parliament" during a three-month transitional period, Obaida Arnaout, the political affairs spokesperson for the new government, told AFP on Thursday.

"A legal and human rights committee will be formed to review the Constitution and propose amendments," he explained.

The current Constitution, enacted in 2012, does not specify Islam as the state religion.

Rebels led by radical Islamists who seized power in Syria on Sunday have appointed a transitional government leader, Mohammad al-Bachir, who will serve until March 1, 2025.

Mohammad al-Bachir previously headed the "Salvation Government" in the rebel stronghold of Idlib, in northwest Syria.

Mr. Arnaout noted that a meeting took place on Tuesday "between ministers of the Salvation Government and former ministers (from Bashar al-Assad's government) to facilitate the transfer of power."

"This transitional period will last three months," Arnaout added.

"Our priority is to preserve and protect institutions," he assured.

He spoke to AFP from the headquarters of Syrian state radio and television, where representatives of the new authorities are now stationed alongside officials from the former regime.

Following an 11-day lightning offensive, a coalition of rebel groups dominated by the radical Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled Bashar al-Assad’s government on Sunday, forcing him to flee to Russia.

Mr. Arnaout affirmed that the new leadership aims to establish "a state governed by the rule of law" after more than half a century of Assad family rule, marked by repression.

With AFP

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