Bashar Asad Syrian statesman and politician, President of Syria (since July 17, 2000) Date of Birth: 11.09.1965 Country: Syria

Biography of Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad is a Syrian statesman and politician who has served as the President of Syria since July 17, 2000. He is the son of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, whose dream was for his son to assume power in the country. Bashar, a blue-eyed ophthalmologist, had no interest in politics and led an unremarkable life. However, after much persuasion from his father, he agreed to become his successor.

Initially, Hafez al-Assad had planned for his eldest son Basel to succeed him. Basel was an engineer, skilled in computers and successful in sports. However, his untimely death in a car accident in January 1994 led Hafez to choose Bashar as his successor. Bashar was the youngest of the three remaining sons.

Born in August 1965, Bashar attended a privileged French-Arabic school in Damascus. He became fluent in French and English. After completing his military service, he pursued a medical degree in ophthalmology at Damascus University. He then worked at the Tishreen military hospital. In 1991, Bashar was sent to Oxford University in England for further training. During his time in London, he used a pseudonym for security reasons.

Returning to Syria, Bashar became involved in various organizations and initiatives. He headed the Syrian Computer Society and played a role in the country's investment policies. He also initiated an anti-corruption campaign, which resulted in the arrest of influential individuals, including the son of a high-ranking Syrian official involved in drug trafficking.

After his father's death, Bashar was appointed as the official successor and began assuming key roles in the Syrian government and military. He became the political advisor to the president, joined the Republican Guard, and was entrusted with the "Lebanese knot" – handling Lebanon-related affairs previously overseen by the vice president.

In June 2000, Bashar was elected as the President of Syria after a unanimous vote by the Parliament. However, his rise to power was met with skepticism and challenges. As an Alawite, a minority sect within Islam, he faced opposition from orthodox Muslims. The Alawite community itself is divided into privileged "Hassa" and non-privileged "Ammah" groups, and Bashar does not belong to the privileged group.

Despite these challenges, Bashar has worked to strengthen his regime and address issues of corruption. He has implemented reforms and brought in new faces to his administration. However, the path to stability and consolidation of power remains uncertain, as he faces potential political crises and opposition from various groups.

Nevertheless, Bashar al-Assad has ascended to the Syrian "throne" and continues to navigate the complex political landscape of his country.