Syrian society. Bitar eased the public atmosphere slightly; his government released 180 political prisoners in June. It is said that it was Hafiz who decided to release the political detainees, not Bitar. The Provisional Constitution, which ensured the trade unions' independence from the state, did not change the authoritarian nature of the government; either the Cabinet, the Syrian Regional Command or the Military Committee issued a decree which dismissed Khalid al-Hakim as head of the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU). Hakim was dismissed because he permitted radical Ba'athistswho supported Shufi and Sadito gather and hold meetings at the GFTU. Bitar resigned from office on 3 October, according to Devlin because he "failed ... to accomplish much beyond getting a constitution issued, easing tensions, and staying in office." Shortly after his resignation, Bitar and Atrash lost their seats on the Presidential Council. The two were replaced by Salah Jadid and Hafizboth Military CommitteeRegionalist loyalists. The National Command was displeased by the military's domination of the state, and its members persuaded Aflaqwho had gone into self-imposed exileto return to Syria. Third term: 1966 The old guard were humiliated, the new government led by Hafiz initiated several statist measures, and the Military Committee reduced the National Command to a formality. At the 8th National Congress in April 1965, Aflaq did not stand for the Secretary Generalship of the party but was re-elected to the National Command against his will. Munif al-Razzaz succeeded Aflaq as secretary general. In an effort to rebuild the authority of the National Command, Razzaz had to contend with two factions; the Military Committee–Regionalist loyalists who controlled the party in Syria, and the old guard faction led by Aflaq–Bitar. Both Aflaq and Bitar supported a direct approach against the Military Committee–Regionalist alliance, constantly pressing Razzaz to dissolve the Regional Command and to expel what they considered "deviators" from the party. According to Razzaz, Bitar believed most party members supported them in their conflict against the Military Committee–Regionalist alliance. They were incorrect; during a visit to several party branches within Syria, Razzaz learnt that the National Command lacked any significant support at the local level. In the meantime, a power struggle within the Military Committee between Hafiz and Jadid began. The National Command brokered a compromise between the two, which led to the formation of a new government led by Yusuf Zuayyin and to an extraordinary Regional Congress. Razzazwho did