Assad fires Syria’s PM amid worsening economic crisis
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday fired his prime minister, a month ahead of elections and as the economic crisis worsens and public anger rises in the territory under his control.
Assad appointed the current minister of water resources to replace Imad Khamis, who had been premier since 2016. The Syrian president asked Hussein Arnous to serve as interim premier until parliament elections are held in July and a new government comes in.
The surprise decision comes amid a deepening economic crisis that Assad’s government is grappling with while public anger spills into the streets. Such protest scenes have not been seen in governmentheld areas since the early days of the civil war that has ravaged the country over the past decade.
There was no explanation for Khamis’ sacking, but the move appeared aimed at deflecting public anger, which has regularly targeted the prime minister but rarely the president himself. In the month he has been in office, it remains unclear what the interim prime minister can do to try to salvage the staggering economic downturn.
The economic meltdown comes ahead of looming new U.S. sanctions against any entity or country that does business with the Syrian government. The new sanctions are due to take effect in the second half of June, but they have shaken the already teetering economy. Known as the U.S. Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, the sanctions are expected to worsen the already dire economic situation in Syria, where more than 80% of the people live below the poverty line.
The national currency, the Syrian pound, has tumbled in recent weeks, reaching a record low to the dollar. The pound, which traded at 47 pounds to the dollar before the 2011 uprising, plunged to over 3,000 for a dollar this week. Prices of basic goods have skyrocketed while some staples have disappeared from the market as merchants and the public struggled to keep up with the rising cost of living.
The latest hardships have also sparked rare protests in areas controlled by the Assad government. Hundreds of protesters in the southern Sweida province have taken to the streets in the last four days, decrying the rising cost of living and chanting against Assad, in scenes reminiscent of the early days of anti-government protests that erupted in 2011.
The currency has regained some of its strength over the last 24 hours as Syrian Central Bank officials said they have taken measures against currency manipulation and actions to prop up the currency.
Fouad Ali, head of banking operations at the Central Bank, told the local Sham FM radio that the pound has been impacted by the economic crisis in neighboring Lebanon, the entry point for foreign currency into Syria, as well as the looming U.S. sanctions.
Ali told the radio late Wednesday that the Central Bank “forcefully interfered” to stop the depreciation of the currency, calling it part of an “economic war” against Syria. He said the aim is to restore the exchange rate to an “acceptable” rate.
“We take publicized and not so publicized measures that aim to impact the supply of foreign currency,” he said. “What matters are the results, which everyone noticed. God willing, there will be more improvement and I promise the public will see it.”
The U.S. Embassy in Syria tweeted Wednesday that the Assad government is responsible for the country’s economic meltdown, accusing it of squandering millions each month on a “needless war.” Washington will continue its targeted sanctions and increased economic pressure on Assad’s government, it said, “until there is irreversible progress on the political process,” including a nationwide cease-fire.