El marc polític de Síria

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: vacant; former President Bashar al-ASAD was overthrown by Islamist rebels on 8 December 2024
Prime Minister: Muhammad al-BASHIR (since 8 December 2024)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2028
Legislative: July 2028

Main Political Parties

Syria's political landscape has undergone significant transformations following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The dissolution of the Ba'ath Party, which had dominated Syrian politics for decades, has paved the way for new political entities and realignments. ​In January 2025, the interim government officially banned parties associated with the former National Progressive Front, effectively dissolving the Ba'ath Party and its affiliates. This move aimed to dismantle the political structures of the previous regime and open the space for new political formations.

Currenty, the key political parties/movements include:

• Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS): formerly an Islamist militant group, HTS helped overthrow the Assad regime. Its leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, became interim president in January 2025. The group now presents itself as a political movement promoting pluralism and minority rights.
• Syrian Salvation Government (SSG): created by HTS in opposition-held areas, the SSG has been incorporated into the national framework and now functions as the administrative branch of the interim government.
• Syrian National Coalition (SNC): once the main opposition in exile, the SNC aligned with the transitional authorities and began dissolving in early 2025, integrating its members into the new government.
• Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): a Kurdish-led alliance controlling northern Syria. While not officially part of the interim government, talks are underway regarding their role. Their exclusion from constitutional talks has caused friction.
• Kurdish National Council (KNC): a coalition of Kurdish parties that left the SNC in February 2025. It now seeks to represent Kurdish interests independently in the transitional political process.

Executive Power

The President of Syria is both the head of state and head of government, following the abolition of the Prime Minister’s position under the new interim constitution. The President holds extensive executive powers and serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Under the interim framework introduced in 2024, the presidency is centralised and the President has the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers, propose laws, and appoint civilian and military personnel who are accountable solely to him. The President also exercises significant influence over the legislative branch, including the power to appoint one-third of the members of the People's Assembly.

The position is no longer filled by popular referendum for a fixed seven-year term, as was the case under the previous constitution. Instead, the new charter outlines a transitional period of five years, during which electoral and constitutional reforms may be introduced.

Legislative Power

Syria's legislative authority is vested in a unicameral parliament known as the People's Assembly (Majlis al-Shaab). It comprises 250 members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The Assembly meets in three regular sessions each year and may be convened for special sessions by either its president or the President of the Republic.

Historically, the People's Assembly served primarily as an endorsement body for the legislative agenda of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, particularly before the 2012 constitutional changes that formally introduced political pluralism.

Although Syria was under a state of emergency from 1963 to 2011—granting the President broad powers—this state was officially lifted in April 2011. However, subsequent legal and constitutional reforms have maintained strong executive control, particularly through the expansive powers still held by the presidency.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

173/180

Source: World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Not Free

Political Freedom:

7/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House