What Syria’s New Temporary Constitution Says

Syria’s new government has adopted a temporary constitution that concentrates much power in the hands of the interim president and retains Islamic law as the foundation of the legal system.

The interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, signed the constitutional declaration on Thursday following the dissolution in January of the previous constitution under the authoritarian president, Bashar al-Assad. Mr. al-Shara, who led the overthrow of Mr. al-Assad in December, had promised to form an inclusive government and he heralded this as the beginning of what he called “a new history” for the nation after decades of dictatorship and a long civil war.

The declaration guarantees “freedom of opinion, expression, information, publication and press.” If upheld, this would be a dramatic departure from the draconian surveillance state under Mr. al-Assad. It also pledges to safeguard women’s rights and the rights of all Syrians during a five-year transitional period, after which a permanent constitution will be adopted and elections for a president and parliament will be held.

However, some among Syria’s diverse mix of ethnic and religious groups remain skeptical of the new leader’s sweeping promises to create an inclusive government because of his roots as the head of an Islamist extremist rebel group.

The president’s powers

The temporary constitution grants the president executive authority and the power to declare a state of emergency. The president will appoint one-third of the legislature, which will serve as an interim parliament for the transition period. The other two-thirds will be chosen by electoral commissions overseen by a committee appointed by the president.