Syria's de facto leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani was named president for a transitional period, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) reported on Wednesday, citing commander Hassan Abdel Ghani.
Syria's constitution was also suspended and the existing parliament dissolved, according to the announcement by the spokesperson for the Military Operations Command.
Julani was also authorised to form a temporary legislative council for the transitional phase which will carry out its task until a new constitution is adopted, SANA reported, citing Abdel Ghani.
The announcements emerged during a meeting in Damascus attended by commanders of armed groups that fought alongside Julani's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to oust Bashar al-Assad from power.
Ghani further clarified "The Arab Socialist Baath Party, the National Progressive Front parties, and all their affiliated organizations, institutions, and committees were dissolved," adding that all civil bodies would also be dissolved and reformed into state institutions, according to Sky News Arabia.
Plans for Syria
Julani, the head of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), said that Syria will not be used to destabilize any other Arab nation in an interview with Arab-language newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat in December.
“Syria is tired of wars and being used for others’ agendas," Julani told Asharq Al-Awsat. "We want to restore trust and rebuild our country as part of the Arab world.”
“We are now focused on state-building," Julani said. "The revolution ended with the regime's fall, and we will not allow it to spread elsewhere. Syria will not be a platform to threaten or unsettle any Arab or Gulf country."
Julani became the de-facto leader of Syria after a lightning offensive by HTS rebels pushed former Syrian president Bashar Assad out of the country. Western countries are cautiously opening channels with the HTS-backed interim caretaker government, fearing the rise of the Islamic State in Syria.
Yet, Julani claims that he has different plans for Syria, pointing to other neighbors, such as Saudi Arabia, as examples of what a new Syria could look like.
After the announcement that Julani would take the presidency, Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Sheibani declared, “We succeeded in drawing a decent Syrian identity that expresses the aspirations of our people, and establishes a country based on freedom, justice and dignity, in which everyone feels love for the homeland, belonging, giving and sacrifice.”
"Syria attaches special importance to its Arab ties, continues to strengthen its relations with neighboring countries, continues its path with determination and resolve, and paints a strong image that is increasingly effective in foreign policy through new partnerships," he added.