The Fourth Sabri al-Asali government was the fifty-seventh government in the history of modern Syria and the thirteenth administration of the Second Syrian Republic. Formed on 31 December 1956, it was the third and final government to serve during the second presidency of Shukri al-Quwatli.
The government remained in office for fourteen months and secured parliamentary confidence by a vote of 69 in favour and 4 against, while 69 deputies were absent. Its coalition included representatives of the National Party, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and prominent independent politicians such as Khalid al-Azm, reflecting a broad political consensus in support of Arab unity and closer relations with the Eastern Bloc.
During its tenure, the government concluded the largest agreement in Syrian history up to that time with the Soviet Union, significantly expanding economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Its ministerial programme also called for the establishment of a federal union with Egypt. Negotiations with the Egyptian government progressed rapidly, and within a year the two states agreed to full political union rather than a federal arrangement.
The government played a central role in the negotiations that led to the creation of the United Arab Republic. The union was approved by referendum and formally proclaimed on 22 February 1958, bringing an end to an independent Syrian state and concluding the tenure of the Fourth Sabri al-Asali government.
Composition
See also Council of Ministers (Syria) List of Syrian governments Government ministries of Syria List of prime ministers of Syria
References