Syrian interim president ratifies new constitutional declaration for political transition

Xinhua
13 Mar 2025, 21:47 GMT+10

Locals rally in a street in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 8, 2024. In a stunning turn of events on Sunday, opposition forces in Syria seized control of the capital, Damascus, following a rapid offensive that saw major Syrian cities falling like dominos within days. After taking over, opposition fighters appeared on state television channels to announce what they described as the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa ratified a new constitutional declaration on Thursday, laying the legal foundation for a five-year transitional phase aimed at rebuilding political and legal structures.

Drafted by a specialized constitutional committee, the declaration underscores the aspiration for a "new Syria" while maintaining the official state name of "Syrian Arab Republic."

It specifies that the president must be Muslim, and Islamic jurisprudence remains a primary source of legislation.

The constitutional document emphasizes the protection of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, opinion, press, media, and publication. It also explicitly guarantees property rights and women's rights to participate fully in education and employment.

Politically, the declaration grants the parliament expanded authority, including the power to summon and question ministers, as well as the capacity to impeach or limit presidential powers.

Additionally, the declaration calls for dissolving the existing constitutional court and courts established for addressing terrorism cases, with provisions for establishing new legal structures during the transitional period.

This constitutional declaration marks a significant step toward political transition and structural reform in Syria, addressing long-standing calls for enhanced legislative oversight and greater protection of civil liberties after the recent political upheaval in the country.