Syria: The anticipated government changes in Syria will see the return of the prime minister’s position.
Reports from Syria indicating that a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle in the coming weeks in Syria, primarily aimed at integrating minorities and distributing the multiple powers held by President Ahmed al Sharaa.
The amendment is expected to be limited in scope, limited to a few key ministerial portfolios, before the law appoints the rest of parliament and pushes for constitutional amendments.
One of the main goals of this amendment is to delegate some of the responsibilities overseen by al Sharaa, including his assumption of the position of de facto prime minister, in addition to his presidential duties.
This has drawn criticism from Syrian minorities and international observers, who see the centralization of power as impeding the country’s transition to more pluralistic governance.
Ahmed al Sharaa had previously abolished the post of prime minister to take over the prime minister himself.
The position will now be reinstated, and the most prominent candidates include the current foreign minister, Asaad al Shaibani, and Riad Hijab, the Assad-era prime minister and a university figure who defected from the former regime in mid-2012.
According to official and informed sources in Damascus, Interior Minister Anas Khattab, one of the officials closest to Sharaa, will be replaced by his deputy, Major General Abdel Qader al Tahan, who was promoted from the post of head of public security to deputy interior minister on February 1, and Khattab will move to head the National Security Council, a vital body currently chaired by Sharaa.
Another aide close to Ahmed al Sharaa will be replaced, Defense Minister Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra, who is likely to be replaced by Major General Ali al Naasan, the current chief of staff, and its unclear what position Abu Qasra will hold, but he is likely to occupy a pivotal role under Sharaa’s leadership.
Other significant changes include the appointment of a Kurdish figure as deputy foreign minister, and possibly to a senior position in parliament.
Ilham Ahmed, who accompanied al Shaibani as part of the Syrian delegation to the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago, is one of the leading candidates for the post of foreign minister.
After the conference, which included Kurdish meetings with US and European officials, the Kurds reportedly stepped up their demands for the presidency of the Foreign Ministry and at least two other ministries.
The Kurds are likely to receive seven unspecified positions, which is eight shorts of their demand for eight ministerial and administrative positions, in addition to the current position of governor of Hasakah.
The constitutional amendments will also enshrine the executive decree issued by President Ahmed al Sharaa on January 16, which recognizes Kurdish rights in the national constitution.
The ministerial changes will include Alawite figures, with agriculture being raised as a possible option for the appointment of an Alawite, replacing the sect’s current control of the Ministry of Transport, led by Ya’rub Badr.
Other ministries will see the reintegration of Alawites, including Assad-era judges and lawyers, who left or secretly relieved their posts in the weeks after Assad’s fall in December 2024.
