ction last held 2
December 1991 (next to be held December 1998); results - President
Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term with 99.98%
of the vote; note - President ASAD seized power in the November 1970
coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed
as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections
head of government:
Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime
Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime
Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister
Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab):
elections last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be held NA May 1994);
results - Ba'th 53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist
Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%, Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%,
independents 33.6%; seats - (250 total) Ba'th 134, ASU 8, SCP 8, Arab
Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5, Democratic Socialist Union Party
4, independents 84; note - the People's Council was expanded to 250
seats total prior to the May 1990 election
Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of
Cassation, State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party is the Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party; the
Progressive National is dominated by Ba'thists but includes
independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP);
Arab Socialist Union (ASU); Syrian Communist Party (SCP); Arab
Socialist Unionist Movement; and Democratic Socialist Union Party
Other political or pressure groups:
non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist
party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Walid MUALEM
chancery:
2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 232-6313
FAX:
(202) 234-9548
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
embassy:
Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No.