Muhammad Zuhair Masharqa (Arabic: زهير مشارقة; 1938 – 23 April 2007) was a Syrian politician who served as Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2006.
Early life and education
Masharqa came from a Sunni family.[1] He received a bachelor's degree in education from Damascus University in 1961.[2] He also obtained a degree in law from Aleppo University in 1968.[2]
Career
His first public post was governor of Hama to which he was appointed in 1973.[3] Masharqa became a member of the Baath Party in 1975.[3] Later he became deputy director of the party.[4] Masharqa was appointed to the cabinet in 1978 as Minister of Education and became vice president for Domestic Affairs on 11 March 1984.[4][5] He was the country's longest serving vice president, in office from 1984 to 2006, and was particularly noted for his loyalty to Hafez Assad. After the death of Assad in 2000, a 9-member committee was formed to oversee the transition period, and Masharqa was among its members.[6]
Bashar Assad chose to retain him as a vice president up to his retirement in 2006.[7] He was replaced by Farouk Sharaa as vice president.[2]
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