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Widespread municipalities with elected council at all Syrian territory, including rural areas, are a way for the Baathist regime to reinforce political clienteles. After the revolt of the Muslim Brotherhood (1979-1982), it is also to create intermediaries between the people and the State, which could defuse social crises. The municipal councils are constituted by the Baathist small bourgeoisie, mostly through internal promotion within the administration. The choice of the mayor of municipality by the regime is tricky, because it needs to ensure that this function does not allow them to be independent.