# Second Mustafa Mero government

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The second Mustafa Mero government was the first Syrian government during the presidency of Bashar al-Assad. It was established on 13 December 2001 and lasted until 10 September 2003 when the President designated Muhammad Naji al-Otari to form a new government.

## Composition

The new government was headed by Mustafa Mero, who repeated term, and formed by 33 ministers. There were 15 ministers retaining their office and 18 new ministers. There were two women: Najwa Qassab Hassan as Minister of Culture and Ghada al Jabi as Minister of Social Affairs and Labor. Five members were part of the Baathist leadership: Mero and his four deputy ministers.
Second Mustafa Mero government (13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003) :
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Term of office |
| Prime Minister | Muhammad Mustafa Mero | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Deputy Prime Minister | Mustafa Tlass | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Services | Muhammad Naji al-Otari | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Deputy Prime Minister | Farouk al-Sharaa | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs | Muhammed Al Hussein | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Farouk al-Sharaa | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Finance | Mohammad al-Atrash | Independent | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Defense | Mustafa Tlass | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Higher Education | Hassan Risheh | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Local Administration | Hilal Al Atrash | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Tourism | Saadallah Agha al-Qalaa | Independent | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform | Nureddine Muna | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Education | Mahmoud Sayyed | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Supply and Internal Trade | Bassam Muhammad Rustom | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade | Ghassan Al Rifai | Independent | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Health | Muhammad Iyad Shatti | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Justice | Muhammad Nabil Al Khatib | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Endowments | Muhammad bin Abd al Raouf | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Irrigation | Muhammad Radwan Martini | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Social Affairs and Labor | Ghada al Jabi | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Oil and Mineral Reserves | Ibrahim Haddad | Independent | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Interior | Ali Hammoud | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Information | Adnan Omran | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Culture | Najwa Qassab Hassan | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Electricity | Munib Saem Dahr | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Construction | Hussam Asswad | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Housing | Ayman Waili | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Transport | Makram Obeid | Independent | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Industry | Issam al-Zaim | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of Communication and Technology | Muhammad Bashir Monjed | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of State for Presidential Affairs | Haitham Dweyhi | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of State for Expatriates Affairs | Nasser Qaddour | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of State for Environmental Affairs | Adnan Khuzam | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of State | Faissal Jawish | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of State | Abdelkarim Sayyed Youssef | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |
| Minister of State | Abdelnasser Abdelmuti Dawoud | | 13 December 2001 – 10 September 2003 |