Syrian opposition Abdul Halim Khaddam said on Friday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will face a fate similar to that of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1989 in the coming months. He made this statement on the sidelines of a meeting of Syrian opposition figures, including Khaddam and the General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni, held in Brussels. They announced the establishment of the National Salvation Front to bring about a peaceful change of the regime in Syria and the formation of a transitional government to replace Assad through democratic means.
Khaddam speculated about an imminent popular uprising to overthrow Assad, citing widespread poverty, rampant corruption, strict security measures, and limited freedom of expression as factors contributing to the situation. He added that all these factors resemble the conditions that led to the rebellion in Romania. Khaddam had previously met with the General Supervisor of the banned Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in Brussels last month, and they decided to contact various Syrian opposition parties to intensify pressure on the ruling regime in Damascus.
Abdul Halim Khaddam stated at a press conference that all factions of the Syrian opposition and activists have reached a consensus that the Syrian regime must change. His comments came after a two-day meeting of opposition groups in Brussels, which included the Muslim Brotherhood, liberals, communists, and Kurds.
The former deputy to the Syrian president, a seasoned politician who remained in power for 53 years, said that Bashar al-Assad has directed Syrian politics in favor of a small, close-knit family circle. Khaddam stated that what is happening in reality is that he gives priority to the interests of the family around him in the decisions that are made. He added that he means Assad himself, his brother Maher al-Assad, his sister’s husband Assef Shawkat, and very close family members.
Khaddam continued, saying that the regime is fundamentally led by the president himself, so if the president of the regime falls or collapses, the entire regime will collapse. When asked about when he expects the uprising to occur, he said he is sure it will happen this year within a few months, adding that President Assad is making many mistakes and digging a hole for himself. Khaddam, who lives in France, mentioned that he chose to hold the meeting in Belgium because French law requires political refugees to refrain from making statements against foreign governments. He also stated that he has many supporters within the ruling Ba’ath Party and the military, and they will be active partners in changing the regime, with no massacres expected.
Pressure has been mounting on Assad and his family since the United Nations investigation into the assassination of Hariri last year implicated senior Syrian officers and called for the questioning of high-ranking officials. However, despite the massive protests in Lebanon, which led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces after Hariri’s assassination, there have been no significant signs of protest from within Syria, which remains under tight control.