Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Mohammad Ghazi Jalali as the new prime minister of the country, as reported by state media on Saturday. At 55 years of age, Jalali, a civil engineer and economist, has been assigned the responsibility of establishing a new cabinet, as indicated by the presidential decree.
He succeeds Hussein Arnous, who had held the position of prime minister since June 2020. Arnous’s administration had been operating in a caretaker capacity since its term concluded following the parliamentary elections in July. Jalali previously held the position of communications minister from 2014 to 2016 and possesses a doctorate in engineering economics from Ain Shams University in Egypt, along with degrees in civil engineering from Damascus University.
Jalali’s appointment comes after a meeting on Friday between Assad and the leaders of Syria’s ruling Baath Party to deliberate on the formation of the new government. An official announcement regarding the complete cabinet is anticipated in the forthcoming days, with the new administration set to present its policy statement to the Syrian People’s Assembly on September 25.