DAMASCUS, Aug 31 (AFP): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree Sunday appointing a new cabinet without changing the heads of so-called "sovereign" portfolios, days after confirming Hussein Arnous as the country's premier.
The decree, published on the presidency's social media channels, keeps the heads of the foreign affairs, defence, interior, economy and information ministries in their posts but changes those in charge of 12 other cabinet portfolios, including the ministries of finance, energy and public health.
The 29-minister government, which includes three female ministers, is the fifth to be formed since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011.
It came as Syria grapples with a grinding economic crisis, a spiralling coronavirus outbreak and continued violence in the country's north.
The government's official mandate will expire next July when presidential elections are due, after which it will continue to function in a caretaker capacity until a presidential decree is issued naming a new cabinet, as per the constitution.
President Assad had on Tuesday named Arnous as prime minister after he was appointed interim premier in June ahead of last month's parliamentary polls.
Assad names new govt
FE Team | Published: August 31, 2020 20:46:48
Assad names new govt
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