France first stop for Syrian president in Europe

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian interim president, has arrived in France on the 7th of May in what marks the first visit to Europe by the Syrian leader post-Assad regime.

According to France 24, al-Sharaa arrived in Paris accompanied by his delegation as he prepared to meet French President Emmanuel Macron.

Analysts will interpret the meeting as a key advancement for al-Sharaa’s legitimacy if he gains the French government’s support.

With the interim president currently holding a travel ban by the United Nations, the fact that France would have had to ask for an exemption for the Syrian leader offers a key development in legitimising his government.

The situation currently remains undecided regarding whether Europe and the West will support this new government and whether he can establish legitimacy given his past as the Islamist leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has strong ties to al-Qaeda.

This history has placed increasing pressure on the leader and the new government to demonstrate that they are committed to protecting human rights and not merely attempting to seize power in a country that has endured a 14-year civil war.

The issue of the past has not gone unnoticed by the far-right opposition leader, Marine Le Pen, who has claimed Macron is meeting with a “jihadist”, claiming the meeting is “provocative and irresponsible” via a post on X.

Many critics of the meeting, such as Le Pen, will have their reservations about al-Sharaa not just for his past but for the current issues which have taken place in the country since his takeover of power in December 2024.

Since then, there have been numerous atrocities of sectarian violence which the government has not managed to control.

On the 7th of March, the largest conflict in the region since his takeover of power took place, as we saw over 1,000 deaths, including minority groups such as the Alawites and civilians.

The situation in Syria continues to be tricky as it seems the government needs legitimacy, which it can get from Europe and the West, but many critics will be sceptical as to whether the West will reach out to help.

France 24/Maghrebi.org/X