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Five-Year Transition Period and Muslim President: Draft Constitution of Syria
Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara received the draft constitutional declaration today, Thursday, and signed it, revealing several important details.
The main points of the constitutional declaration include:
- Name of the State: Syrian Arab Republic.
- Religion of the Head of State: Islam.
- Source of Legislation: Islamic jurisprudence is the primary source of legislation.
- Protection of Rights: The declaration guarantees the rights to opinion, expression, media, and publication.
- Authorities of the People's Assembly: The People's Assembly has the right to summon and interrogate ministers.
- Ownership and Participation Rights: Property rights and women's rights to participate in work and education are guaranteed.
- Removal of the President: The matter of removing, dismissing, or limiting the powers of the president is left to the People's Assembly.
- Abolition of the Constitutional Court: The current Constitutional Court is to be abolished.
- Transition Period Duration: Set for five years.
- State of Emergency: Must be approved by the National Security Council and extended with the approval of the People's Assembly.
In clarifying the details of the declaration, Abdul Hamid al-Awak, a member of the drafting committee, pointed out that the declaration is based on the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, emphasizing that the transition period will last for five years.
He added that the committee divided the declaration into a preamble and four chapters, with the chapter on general provisions remaining unchanged. Al-Awak confirmed that the work on the draft was conducted in an atmosphere of freedom, with the state's commitment to maintaining the unity of its territory and people.
A special chapter was dedicated to rights and freedoms to ensure a balance between social security and individual rights, emphasizing the principle of separation of powers. The amendments are set to guarantee women's rights and freedom of opinion, media, and expression.
Al-Awak noted that Islamic jurisprudence is the basis of legislation, and the president of Syria's religion will remain "Islam." He clarified that the People's Assembly will hold the right to interrogate ministers, with executive power concentrated in the hands of the President during the transition period.
Al-Awak also affirmed the independence of the judiciary and the prohibition of exceptional courts, stating that there is no authority over the judiciary except for the law.
Regarding the Constitutional Court, he indicated that the current court would be dissolved, granting the president the right to appoint a new Constitutional Court, fully committed to separating powers.
He also emphasized the importance of achieving transitional justice by abolishing exceptional laws concerning terrorism courts.
It is worth mentioning that opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Assad from power after entering Damascus on December 8, where a caretaker government was announced to manage the country for a three-month period. However, a transitional government to manage the country has not yet been announced as was expected.
