Days before his troops overthrew the regime of Bashar Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa declared that Syria deserves a system in which no “single ruler makes arbitrary decisions.” Sharaa, once a feared jihadist and founder of al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, now vows to abandon vengeance and lead Syria’s reconstruction with moderation and inclusivity.

But as interim president, he has seized control of every pillar of government, stacking sensitive posts with loyalists and family. This culminated in mid-March with the imposition of an interim constitution granting him executive, legislative and judicial authority for five years.

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Despite hopes after Assad’s fall, Syria is not on a path to democracy, liberal or otherwise.

Sharaa has already begun replicating the old dictator’s habit of appointing relatives to power. Assad inherited Syria from his father, Hafez, and made his brother Maher head of the fourth division, while his brother-in-law became deputy defense minister. Sharaa also has a brother named Maher, whom he appointed interim Minister of Health, though he was later replaced when the second transitional Cabinet was approved on March 29.

Sharaa is also filling key military and intelligence posts with jihadi confidants. The new interior minister is Anas Khattab, a

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