Syrian National State

The Syrian National State, simply known as Syria, is a country located in the Middle East. It is bordered to the south by the State of Palestine, to the east by the Iraqi Republic, to the north by the Republic of Turkey and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. It is a puppet state of Turkey.

History

In 1942, when Cairo fell to Italy and with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics disorganised, the Republic of Turkey entered World War II as part of the Axis and launched an offensive into Syria and Armenia. In Syria, due to a lack of supplies, the Allied forces put up little resistance to the sudden Turkish offensive, which quickly captured Damascus. Turkey annexed northern Syria and entered an agreement with Italy, according to which the former French Mandate of Syria would be in the Turkish sphere of influence.

İsmet İnönü, aware of the complications of ruling Syria directly from Ankara, asked Tayfur Sökmen, a Syrian Turkmen and the former president of the Hatay State, to lead the Syrian National State. İnönü, Peker and Sökmen agreed to allow local Syrian leaders to participate in governance, ensuring Syrian stability and loyalty to Turkey. The Syrian National State was officially declared on 17 April 1946. President Sökmen formed his government with prominent politicians of the French-era independence movement for ensuring unity in policy. Aware of the importance of legitimacy, Sökmen held legislative and presidential elections in 1949. While the opposition Syrian Social Nationalist Party and the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party gained ground, Sökmen's Unity Party still won the election.

To emphasise the diverse nature of country, Sökmen formed a government with minorities (Druze, Kurds and Turkmens) rather than Arabs, a move harshly criticised by the opposition. In return, they attempted to block the provisions submitted by the Unity Party, effectively gridlocking the functionality of the state. Amidst calls for his resignation, Sökmen attempted to pass a resolution to reestablish the Prime Minister, but at this point Sökmen was aware that he had few chances for reelection. Liberals and intellectuals split from the Unity Party to form the National Party and People's Party, turning Sökmen's minority government into an actual minority government. Nevertheless, Sökmen successfully completed his term and pushed for a legislative post for himself in the next elections.

In 1953, People's Party leader Hashim al-Atassi was elected President of Syria. For three years, both the public and politicians saw the Syrian democracy in its golden age, even if under Turkish suzerainty. After a legislative crisis whose cause was shrouded in mystery in 1956, the 1957 elections ended with the reelection Sökmen, in a major shock to everyone.

Before Sökmen and Barazi were truly able to implement their agenda, Abd al-Karim Qasim deposed the Iraqi monarchy and proclaimed the formation of the Iraqi Republic, provoking a joint Italo-Turkish invasion. With the Turkish army stuck in a stalemate, Turkish command suggested invading Iraq through Syria, with support of the Syrian National Army. Despite opposition by both the public and the government, Sökmen approved of the operation, which managed to break the stalemate. However, the Syrian people never wanted to fight a war that had nothing to do with them. Amidst calls for resignation, Sökmen was assassinated by an unidentified gunman.

Both the SSNP and the Ba'ath were accused of the assassination. In response, they demanded fresh elections to be held, which was supported by other parties as well. As the political proceedings were underway, four generals with no ideologial connection—Adib al-Shishakli, Sami al-Hinnawi, Salah Jadid and Ziad al-Hariri—deposed the civilian government and established the United Coordination Junta.