The Syrian National Coalition, which represents the opposition, has elected new leaders, filling, among others, the posts of president and deputy secretary-general. Salem al-Meslet was elected to succeed Dr. Nasr al-Hariri, with 71 votes.
As deputy head of the coalition, Abdul Ahad Astifo and Ruba Haboush were appointed, with 57 votes for the former and 64 votes for the latter.
The post of Secretary-General went to Syrian opposition leader Haitham Rahma, with 68 votes.
In addition, members of the political body were elected. Those elected were Ahmed Tohme, Ahmed al-Sayed Yusuf, Badr Jamous, Riad al-Hassan, Salwa Aktau, Salim al-Khatib, Abdul Majid Barakat, Zuhair Mohammed, Farouk Tayfour, Bahgat Atassi, Mohammed Selo, Yahya Maktabi, Munzer Serras, Hadi al-Bahra, and Mohammed Kaddah.
Read Also: Opposition to Elect a New President as Hariri Steps Down
Even before Monday’s election of Meslet, the head of the Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans, media reports had suggested that he would take over as head of the coalition.
Who is Salem al-Meslet?
Al-Musalat was born in the al-Hassakeh province in 1958.
In recent years, He has been involved with the Syrian political group, the Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans.
According to the Syrian National Coalition website, Meslet traveled to the United States in 1978, where he completed studies in political science. From 1998 to 2011, he worked as a researcher at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai, where he served as Deputy Director General.
In recent years, he has held several positions, including chairman of the Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans, a member of the Executive Office of the Syrian National Council, and a founding member of the Syrian National Coalition.
In addition to being the sheikh of the Jubour tribe in Syria and Iraq, al-Meslet has served as a member of the coalition’s political body for several terms.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
