Syrian Statesman. He served as the first president of the post-independence Syria from August 17, 1943 to May 30, 1949. He also served as president from September 6, 1955 to February 22, 1958. He entered Syrian politics in the 1930s as a member of the National Bloc, an Arab group that led the opposition to French rule. By 1940, he was in control of the Bloc and when the country became independent three years later, he was elected president with their help. Three years later, he concluded a treaty with France that removed French troops from the country. In 1947, he enacted an amendment that removed a one-term limit from the constitution, and was reelected a year later. In March of 1949, he was ousted in a military coup due to the combination of an Israeli victory over Arab forces in 1948 and dissatisfaction with his rule. After a short imprisonment, he went into exile in Egypt, waiting for a chance to regain his position, while a series of coups paralyzed the country. Free elections once again took place in 1955, and he, as the head of the National Party (the successor to the National Bloc), was elected president. During his second presidential tenure, he turned to the Eastern Bloc after being rebuffed by the United States and signed a defense pact with Egypt's Gamal Abdul Nasser. In 1958, the two nations united to become the United Arab Republic with Nasser as its leader. He left his post and later became disillusioned over the union. In 1961, he supported the coup d'etat that broke the country away from Egypt. He later went into exile in Lebanon.
Syrian Statesman. He served as the first president of the post-independence Syria from August 17, 1943 to May 30, 1949. He also served as president from September 6, 1955 to February 22, 1958. He entered Syrian politics in the 1930s as a member of the National Bloc, an Arab group that led the opposition to French rule. By 1940, he was in control of the Bloc and when the country became independent three years later, he was elected president with their help. Three years later, he concluded a treaty with France that removed French troops from the country. In 1947, he enacted an amendment that removed a one-term limit from the constitution, and was reelected a year later. In March of 1949, he was ousted in a military coup due to the combination of an Israeli victory over Arab forces in 1948 and dissatisfaction with his rule. After a short imprisonment, he went into exile in Egypt, waiting for a chance to regain his position, while a series of coups paralyzed the country. Free elections once again took place in 1955, and he, as the head of the National Party (the successor to the National Bloc), was elected president. During his second presidential tenure, he turned to the Eastern Bloc after being rebuffed by the United States and signed a defense pact with Egypt's Gamal Abdul Nasser. In 1958, the two nations united to become the United Arab Republic with Nasser as its leader. He left his post and later became disillusioned over the union. In 1961, he supported the coup d'etat that broke the country away from Egypt. He later went into exile in Lebanon.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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