Syrian leader Sharaa pledges to form an inclusive transitional government

31/1/2025 6:20

Syria's newly appointed

president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said on Thursday he will form an

inclusive transitional government representing diverse

communities that will build institutions and run the country

until it can hold free and fair elections.



Sharaa addressed the nation in his first speech since being

appointed president for the transitional period on Wednesday by

armed factions that ousted former Syrian President Bashar

al-Assad in a lightning offensive last year.



The armed group that led the offensive, Hayat Tahrir

al-Sham, has since set up an interim government that has

welcomed a steady stream of senior Western and Arab diplomatic

delegations keen to help stabilize the country after 13 years of

civil war.



Sharaa in his speech said he would form a small legislative

body to fill the parliamentary void until new elections were

held, after the Syrian parliament was dissolved on Wednesday.



He said he would also in the coming days announce the

formation of a committee that would prepare to hold a national

dialogue conference that would be a platform for Syrians to

discuss the future political programme of the nation.



That would be followed by a "constitutional declaration," he

said, in an apparent reference to the process of drafting a new

Syrian constitution.



Sharaa has previously said the process of drafting a new

constitution and holding elections may take up to four years.