Council of Ministers (Syria)

Council of Ministers of the Syrian Arab Republic
مجلس وزراء الجمهورية العربية السورية
Map
Overview
Established1930 (Constitution of Syria)
StateSyrian Arab Republic
LeaderPrime Minister
Appointed byPresident
Ministries28
Responsible toPeople's Assembly and the President
HeadquartersGovernment building, Damascus, Syria
Websitewww.pministry.gov.sy

The Cabinet of Syria (Arabic: مجلس وزراء سوريا, majlis wuzara' suria) or Council of Ministers is the chief executive body of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Cabinet in Constitution

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According to the Constitution of Syria:[1]

Section 2 The Council of Ministers

Article 118 [Cabinet]
(1) The Cabinet is the state's highest executive and administrative body. It consists of the Prime Minister, his deputies, and the ministers. It supervises the execution of the laws and regulations and the work of the state machinery and institutions.

Appointment, powers and removal

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Appointment:[2]

  • Appointed by the President

Powers:[2]

  • Implementing state public policy
  • Enforcing laws
  • Supervising government bodies
  • Passing administrative decisions
  • Advising the President

Removal:[2]

  • Upon dismissal by the President
  • Upon submission of resignation to the President
  • Upon removal or resignation of the President
  • Upon a vote of no-confidence by the legislature

Current cabinet

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President Bashar al-Assad accepted the entire cabinet's resignation after a meeting on 29 March 2011.[3] Al-Assad then appointed outgoing Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari to continue as caretaker prime minister until a new government is appointed.[4] On 3 April 2011, Assad appointed Minister of Agriculture Adel Safar the new prime minister.[5] On 6 April 2011, the state-run al-Ekhbariya TV channel said that Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Minister of Defense Dawoud Rajiha, Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs Mohammed Abdul-Sattar Al Sayed, and Minister of Presidential Palace Affairs Mansour Fadlallah Azzam would remain in the new cabinet.[6] On 9 April 2011, DayPress News reported the new cabinet was expected to be announced in the next week.[7] On 14 April 2011, a new cabinet was officially announced.[8][9]

On 9 February 2013, president Assad changed seven ministers in the cabinet.[10] The cabinet reshuffle included the ministries of oil, finance, social affairs, labor, housing, public works and agriculture.[11]

In July 2016, president Assad issued Decree no. 203 for 2016 which listed the new Syrian government.[12]

The first Hussein Arnous government was formed after 2020 Syrian parliamentary election.[13] A new government was formed after 2021 Syrian presidential election under Hussein Arnous.

On 14 September 2024, president al-Assad issued a decree charging Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali with the task of forming a new cabinet.[14] On 23 September 2024, president al-Assad issued a decree forming the new ministry with Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali as the head of it.

Office Incumbent Party Since
Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali (born 1969) Ba'ath Party 14 September 2024
Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbas (born 1964) Ba'ath Party 28 April 2022
Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Bassam al-Sabbagh (born 1969) Ba'ath Party 23 September 2024
Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Damiriyah (born 1971) 23 September 2024
Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Minister Dr. Fayez al-Miqdad (born 1978) 23 September 2024
Electricity Minister Dr. Sinjar Taama (born 1969) 23 September 2024
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Firas Hassan Kaddour[15] (born 1962) 29 March 2023
Culture Minister Dr. Diala Barakat (born 1980) Syrian Social Nationalist Party 23 September 2024
Information Minister Ziad Ghosn (born 1973) 23 September 2024
Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed (born 1958) Ba'ath Party 8 December 2007
Transport Minister Zouhair Khazim (born 1960) 30 August 2020
Justice Minister Ahmad al-Sayyed (born 1965) 30 August 2020
Industry Minister Dr. Mohammad Samer al-Khalil (born 1977) 23 September 2024
Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun[16] (born 1957) Ba'ath Party 26 November 2018
Communications and Technology Minister Iyad Mohammad al-Khatib (born 1974)[16] 26 November 2018
Water Resources Minister Moataz Qattan (born 1966) 23 September 2024
Labor and Social Affairs Minister Samar al-Sebai (born 1965) 23 September 2024
Public Works and Housing Minister Dr. Hamza Ali (born 1967) 23

September 2024

Local Administration and Environment Minister Louay Kharibah (born 1967) 23 September 2024
Education Minister Muhammad Amer Mardini (born 1959) 8 August 2023
Higher Education Minister Dr. Bassam Hasan (born 1958) 23 September 2024
Finance Minister Dr. Riyad Abdel Raouf (born 1975) 23 September 2024
Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Dr. Mohammad Rabie Qalaaji (born 1981) 23 September 2024
Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Minister Louay Imad al-Munajjid (born 1971) 23 September 2024
Tourism Minister Mohammad Rami Radwan Martini[16] (born 1970) 26 November 2018
Administrative Development Minister Salam Mohammad al-Saffaf (born 1979) 29 March 2017
Minister of State for People's Assembly Affairs Ahmed Mohammad Bustaji Syrian Communist Party (Unified) 29 March 2023
Minister of State for Investment Affairs, Vital Projects and Southern Development Ahmad Hadla (born 1976) Arab Democratic Union Party 23 September 2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "English Translation of the Syrian Constitution". Qordoba. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Constitutional history of Syria". constitutionniet.org. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ^ Agencies (29 March 2011). "Syrian cabinet resigns as regime seeks to calm protests". the Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Syrian cabinet resigns amid unrest, says state TV". BBC News. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ^ President al-Assad appointed Adel Safar as New PM Archived 14 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine, DayPress News, 4 April 2011
  6. ^ Syrian PM-designate starts consultations to form new cabinet, Xinhua, 6 April 2011
  7. ^ Safar continues Government-Formation[permanent dead link], SANA, DayPress News, 9 April 2011
  8. ^ Syrian new Cabinet, DayPress News, 14 April 2011
  9. ^ Sands, Phil (15 April 2011). "Syria president appoints new government, orders protesters freed from jail". The National. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Cabinet Shift Within Syria Seems Aimed at Economy". The New York Times. Associated Press. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Syrian president reshuffles economic Cabinet posts". Al Jazeera. Associated Press. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  12. ^ "President al-Assad issues Decree no. 203 forming the new Syrian government 3 July 2016". SANA. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  13. ^ AFP, French Press Agency- (30 August 2020). "Syria's Assad designates new government headed by PM Arnous". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  14. ^ m.eyon (14 September 2024). "President Al-Assad issues decree that assigns Dr. Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali to form the new cabinet in Syria". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  15. ^ "من هو وزير النفط والثروة المعدنية الجديد بسام طعمة ؟ | تلفزيون الخبر ::اخبار سوريا::". alkhabar-sy.com. 31 August 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "President al-Assad issues cabinet reshuffle decree". SANA. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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