Syria’s Caretaker Government Faces Growing Public Discontent Amid Reform Struggles
Despite initial gains in security, Syrians express frustration over stagnant living conditions, mass dismissals, and a lack of clear economic direction.
Watan-Syrians had their eyes on the caretaker government, despite knowing it lacked sufficient experience. Still, they pinned hopes on it to fulfill many of their aspirations. One of the government’s credited achievements has been restoring security control over most major cities, with the newly formed General Security Forces playing a key role in reinforcing stability. However, many problems remain unresolved.
Mansour Al-Ali from Damascus said:“There’s a big difference between the performance of the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry. The former reactivated the criminal investigation units and judicial police in record time, which helped rebuild trust between citizens and security services. But security challenges remain, especially in areas with armed groups or unruly militias. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry still struggles with discipline issues within some factions, weakening its ability to establish lasting stability.”
Public opinion about the government’s performance varies. Some view recent administrative and security measures as a first step toward stability, while others express disappointment over the lack of tangible improvements in basic services and living conditions.
Reform Without Relief: Syrians Still Waiting for Change
Fatima Al-Abdullah from Damascus said:“We still live in hope, but we haven’t seen real change in our daily lives. Power outages last for hours, water is insufficient, and while reforms take time, the government needs to listen to people’s voices and avoid taking arbitrary decisions that harm their interests.”
The government has faced major hurdles in trying to reform the bloated and corrupt state bureaucracy. It made bold decisions, including suspending or firing over 400,000 employees—either through termination or three-month unpaid leave—and halting salaries of military and security personnel who were active during the former regime’s downfall. These moves stirred controversy, especially among those who lost their only source of income.
Imad Abu Ras, a dismissed employee, said:“I don’t think the government is clueless about how state institutions were run before. Many dismissed employees had over 20 years of service, and no specialized review committees were formed or appeals allowed. Yes, there were ghost employees collecting salaries under the old regime, but tens of thousands were let go. These decisions hurt social reconciliation and fuel resentment.”
Human rights activist Salam Abbas noted that the government made a major misstep early on by raising salaries by 400% without public pressure—then failed to even provide the base pay. “That was the first disappointment,” she said, adding that the lack of a clear economic vision led people to focus on political quarrels on social media instead of serious nation-building.
On the public services front, citizens continue to wait for improvements in electricity, water, healthcare, and communications. Despite repeated government promises, on-the-ground suffering persists.
Economic Strains Undermine Fragile Progress
Economic expert Qasem Al-Halabi explained:“Increasing electricity supply would save money for both the state and citizens and would boost productivity. Power costs are far lower than diesel alternatives, which would positively impact all aspects of life.”
Recently, there’s been a relative drop in food prices and a stable exchange rate for the U.S. dollar—benefiting several population groups. However, decisions to cut subsidies on essentials like fuel and bread have worsened living conditions.
From Aleppo, Ammar Al-Buqai’i said the current situation still falls short of public expectations:
“People judge the government based on their daily lives and access to services. While food prices have dropped, rising bread and flour prices hit large segments of society hard. Removing subsidies has hurt producers too, especially in agriculture and transport. Imported goods are undercutting locals, causing major losses. There’s a need to protect local production and open up export opportunities.”
The Syrian caretaker government faces tough challenges—ranging from security to administration and public services. While some gains have been made, especially in security, failure to improve daily living conditions and services casts a shadow over everything else.
Calls for Inclusive Policies and Real Change
From Sweida, civil activist Ali Al-Hussein said:“The government must adopt more inclusive economic policies, protect local production, and support the groups most affected by recent decisions. People expect real improvements in their daily lives—that’s the real measure of performance. Policy success depends on lifting the economy, because, as the saying goes, nations move on their stomachs.”
He added:“In Syria, hope is still the main driver for people who dream of a better future, one where they can live with dignity and stability after years of hardship. Syrians hoped for real change after a decade of war, but the new administration’s performance has been disappointing—from factional control over power, the military, and security forces, to deliberate marginalization of different social groups based on ethnicity and sect. The so-called constitutional declaration doesn’t represent the goals of the Syrian revolution—it merely replaced one-party rule with one-man rule.”
