A year after Assad's overthrow, Syria remains without a definitive model of government.
On December 8, thousands of people took to the streets of Syrian cities, as well as some European capitals, to mark the first anniversary of the fall of the former regime. The holiday is officially known as Liberation Day.
In Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the man associated with the December Revolution, stood on a small platform, reviewing the ceremonial parade alongside his closest supporters. In doing so, he demonstrated that he considered himself merely “first among equals.”
However, in reality, the country appears to be once again developing a system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader.
How rigid this political order will become remains unclear, and interaction with Western states serves as a certain restraining factor for Sharaa. In foreign policy, he continues to maneuver, building contacts with all key international players.
