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Bashar al-Assad is the heir apparent of Syria's presidency since the death of his brother, Bassel in 1994. He's currently (2000) undergoing training for the position. He's currently in charge of the Syrian presence in Lebanon and president of the Syrian Computer Society which has helped introduce Syrians to the internet.
Biography[]
Childhood and Education[]
Bashar is one of five born to Hafez al-Assad. His eldest brother, Bassel, was always to be the heir apparent with Assad showing little interest in governing the nation nor in military affairs. He wasn't very close to his father, seeing him mostly as 'the president' rather then a paternal figure. Bashar is said to have been quiet, soft-spoken, shy, and avoiding of eye contact. He was educated at an Arab-French school in Damascus and upon graduating high school enrolled in the study of medicine at Damascus University.
Medicine[]
In 1988 Bashar graduated from Damascus University and began work as an Army Doctor on the outskirts of Damascus before moving to London to further his education seeking to become an Optometrist. His fellow students at the Western Eye Hospital (during his undergraduate study) described him as 'the I.T. geeky guy'. Bashar's venture into a life of medicine was abruptly interrupted when in 1994 his brother, drunk and having committed various deviant acts in Damascus, had a fatal car crash ending his life - Bashar was contacted with the news and an urgent call by the Syrian Army to Syria for the sake of the nation's stability. Bashar left that year.
Preparing for the Presidency[]
Bashar's father Hafez announced Bashar as the heir apparent for the Bar'ath party. Hafez began by building support for Bashar in the military by enrolling him in the Military Academy at Homs. Intent on making a soldier out of a doctor- to further support older commanders uncertain of Bashar's ability to govern where retired and replaced with individuals who had shown themselves agreeable to Bashar's eventually leadership. Bashar became a Colonel in the Republic Guard in 1999. A year prior he was given command of the Syrian Presence in Lebanon as a ground for him to practice governorship. In this role, and after consulting Lebanese politicians, he oversaw the installment of Emile Lahound as President of Lebanon and to weaken the Syrian presence in Lebanon replaced the old high commissioner with someone else. As of 2000 he's head of a bureau tasked with collecting civil complaints and appeals and in such position has led a campaign against corruption in the state. He's also head of the Syrian Computer Society and has introduced Syrians to the internet. His work in cleaning up the state has earned him, along with his physician like concern, the people's high approval.
Hafez's Death and Damascus Spring[]
Bashar's father died on the 10th of June during the year 2000 while on the phone with Lebanon's Prime Minister. 40 days of morning where declared in Syria and 7 days in Lebanon. (next event is the motion enacted by the Bar'ath party to lower the minimum age for president from 40 to 34 as they seek to have Bashar president and he presently is too young at 34. Details of that motion will need to be examined to continue the biography.)
Developer Notes[]
- Only events after January 1, 2000 may be altered.