President of Syria

Article 88 of the 2012 constitution states that the president serves a seven year term and "can be elected for only one more successive term."[3][4] Article 155 states that Article 88 applies to the president "as of the next presidential elections."[3]

On 31 January 1973, Hafez al-Assad implemented a new constitution, which led to a national crisis. Unlike previous constitutions, this one did not require that the president of Syria must be a Muslim, leading to fierce demonstrations in Hama, Homs and Aleppo organized by the Muslim Brotherhood and the ulama. They labeled Assad as the "enemy of God" and called for a jihad against his rule.[5] Robert D. Kaplan has compared Assad's coming to power to "an untouchable becoming maharajah in India or a Jew becoming tsar in Russia—an unprecedented development shocking to the Sunni majority population which had monopolized power for so many centuries."[6] The main objection to the constitution from demonstrators was that Islam was not specified as the state religion.[7] In response to riots, the Syrian Constitution of 1973 was amended to stipulate that Islam was the religion of the president.[7]

A new constitution was approved in February 2012.[8] Article 84 of Syria's 2012 constitution requires that candidates for the presidency must:[3]

1. Be at least 40 years old
2. Be Syrian by birth, of parents who are Syrians by birth
3. Enjoy civil and political rights and not convicted of a dishonorable felony, even if he was reinstated
4. Not be married to a non-Syrian wife
5. Have lived in Syria for 10 years continuously upon nomination

Further eligibility requirements in the 2012 constitution include:[3]

• The religion of the President of the Republic is Islam; Islamic jurisprudence shall be a major source of legislation; The State shall respect all religions, and ensure the freedom to perform all the rituals that do not prejudice public order; The personal status of religious communities shall be protected and respected. (Article 3, which describes the office of the presidency. The requirements in the section including the age requirement are from the section on the requirements for nomination.)

• A candidate must be supported by at least 35 members of the People's Assembly (Article 85)
• The President cannot carry another nationality (Article 152)

Powers:[9]

• Commander in Chief of the army and armed forces
• Representing Syria in international relations
• Developing and implementing national policy
• Appointing and dismissing the Prime Minister and Ministers
• Creating and overseeing the implementation of general state policy
• Vetoing or accepting laws
• Declaring a state of emergency
• Concluding international treaties
• Granting amnesty
• Granting honors and medals
• Dissolving the People’s Assembly
• Passing laws when the legislature is not in session or in emergency situations
• Submitting matters to binding national referendum
• Drafting laws

Removal[9]

• Upon submission of resignation to the People’s Assembly
• At the end of 7-year term if not nominated for re-election, or second 7-year term if re-elected
• In the case of permanent incapacity or death
• Upon conviction for high treason by the Constitutional Court after proposal by one-third of Assembly and approval by two-thirds

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