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Statement from the People's Will Party on the Constitutional Declaration
Yesterday, Thursday, March 13, 2025, the President of the [Syrian] Republic for the Transitional Period, Ahmad al-Shara'a, signed the 53-article "Constitutional Declaration," which was produced by a committee appointed by Mr. al-Shara'a, in the same manner as the Interim Government and the Preparatory Committee for the National Dialogue Conference were appointed. This was done without achieving broad and genuine representation at the general political and social levels in Syria.
The details contained in this declaration, which, in our opinion, do not meet the requirements and risks of the current situation in the country, are numerous. However, the most important of them are three fundamental points:
First: Setting the transitional period at five years, leaving the country for the entire period without a permanent constitution resulting from a truly representative General National Conference, reinforces the risks facing the country's national unity, increases the likelihood of foreign interference in various forms, and obstructs and complicates the lifting of sanctions. Drafting a constitution based on a general national conference could be completed within a year at most, culminating in the Syrian people's struggles to realize their right to self-determination, both in word and deed, through transparent and fair elections at all levels.
Second: The entire Constitutional Declaration, in both form and substance, lacks the most valuable and fundamental idea of rule by the people, for the people, and of the people. This idea constitutes the true essence of democracy and the true fruit of the Syrians' decades-long struggles.
Third: While centralizing powers is important during a critical period like the one we are experiencing, centralization becomes fragile and weak in practical terms when it is not based on general consensus among Syrians and when it is based on the monopolization and concentration of powers by the executive branch, including the presidency, extending to the full control of the three branches of government. This replicates the previous constitution, which enshrined the dominance of the executive branch over the various branches of government.
In conclusion, the announced constitutional declaration is disappointing and falls short of providing a viable basis for a smooth transition that protects the unity of the country and its people and closes the door to all forms of foreign interference.
On this basis, we in the People's Will Party continue to believe that the urgent task facing all Syrians, including the current authorities, is to work quickly toward a General National Conference that will serve as the Syrian people's tool for self-determination and fortify their national unity. We also believe that a comprehensive and representative national unity government will serve as the executive instrument for unifying the country and bringing it to safety.
