'Syrian Interim Government' still seeks legitimacy amid violence
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Jawad Abu Hatab, prime minister of the Syrian Interim Government, discussed the challenges the political and armed opposition face on the ground in Syria.
GAZIANTEP, Turkey — Since the establishment of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, commonly known as the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), in 2012, the Syrian opposition has been seeking a legitimate presence on the ground in the face of the Bashar al-Assad regime. To this end, in November 2013 it formed what it calls the Syrian Interim Government to operate inside Syria. Although the idea seemed a positive development, the government has yet to fully function in light of the ongoing war.
In May 2016, Jawad Abu Hatab was selected prime minister of the interim government, winning the votes of 68 of 98 members of the coalition’s exiled General Assembly.
