Syria’s New Leader Removes His Brothers from Power to Avoid ‘Assad-Style’ Nepotism
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Middle East Politics
DAMASCUS — In a dramatic move to distance his administration from the autocratic legacy of the deposed Assad family, Syria’s new President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has dismissed his own brothers from the kingdom’s most powerful posts.
The restructuring—announced in a late-night presidential decree on May 7, 2026—saw his brother, Maher al-Sharaa, ousted from the presidency of the People’s Assembly (parliament) and replaced by veteran MP Faisal al-Mikdad. Another brother, Hazem al-Sharaa, was simultaneously removed from his senior role in the economic division. Analysts say the decision is a direct attempt by the new leader to kill the perception that Syria has simply swapped one hereditary dictatorship for another.
🛡️ A ‘Poisoned Chalice’ and the Assad Shadow
The move is a significant shift in tone for the leader, who inherited a country shattered by 13 years of devastating civil war after the Assad dynasty’s abrupt fall in late 2025. Historically, the Assad family (former President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher, and their inner circle) held a near-total monopoly on all security, military, and economic levers of power, a system widely criticized as “corrupt” and “kleptocratic.”
By stripping his own siblings of their positions, Al-Sharaa appears to be signaling to the international community—and particularly to Western governments considering economic aid and reconstruction funds—that he is serious about breaking from the “mafia state” structure of the past.
The new president had already faced pressure over the prominent roles of his relatives. A third brother, who has not been named publicly, was previously forced to halt his business activities following accusations that he was exploiting the family name for contracts and trading favors.
🏛️ The Rise of Faisal al-Mikdad
The appointment of the new Assembly Speaker, Faisal al-Mikdad, is seen as a shrewd political move. Al-Mikdad, a career diplomat and a former Deputy Prime Minister, is a figure who has previously operated within the old regime but is not tainted by the intense security apparatus loyal to the Assads.
His appointment signals a turn toward technocratic (rather than familial) management of the state. A native of the southern border province of Quneitra, he brings experience in navigating the complex foreign relations required to bring Syria out of its diplomatic isolation.
💼 The Economic Reset
The dismissal of Hazem al-Sharaa from his senior economic portfolio is just as significant. For years, the Syrian economy has been controlled by monopolies and insider networks. With the West demanding sweeping governance reforms before considering reconstruction aid, removing a brother from the finance files is a direct offering to the IMF and the EU.
Al-Sharaa is trying to show a clean break, but skeptics worry that behind the scenes, the family’s influence remains. The removal of the brothers may be a strategic reset, designed to protect the family from blowback, rather than a genuine democratization of power.
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