Name: Syrian Arab Republic (al-Jumhuriya al-Arabiya as-Suriya)

System of government: Officially a socialist, popular, democratic state; presidential system (ruled by the al-Assad family, with the security services occupying a powerful position)

Head of state: President of the Republic Bashar al-Assad (succeeded his father, Hafiz al-Assad, on 17 July 2000; last presidential elections on 3 March 2014); term of office: seven years (no term limits)

Deputy head of state: Speaker of the People’s Assembly (Parliament), Hammoud Youssef Sabbagh (since 28 September 2017)

Foreign Minister: Faisal al-Miqdad (since November 2020)