 The power contest between the allied Military Committee and the Regionalists against the National Command was fought out within the party structure . However , the Military Committee and the Regionalists managed to turn the party structure on its head . At the 2nd Regional Congress ( held in March 1965 ) , it was decided to endorse the principle that the Regional Secretary of the Regional Command would be the ex officio head of state , and the Regional Command acquired the power to appoint the prime minister , the cabinet , the chief of staff , and the top military commanders . This change curtailed the powers of the National Command , who thenceforth had very little say in Syrian internal affairs . In response , at the 8th National Congress ( April 1965 ) Aflaq had originally planned to launch an attack on the Military Committee and the Regionalists , but was persuaded not to by fellow National Command members – most notably by a Lebanese member , <unk> Majdalani , and a Saudi member , Ali Ghannam – because it could lead to the removal of the party 's civilian leadership , as had occurred in the Iraqi Regional Branch . Because of this decision , Aflaq was voted from office as Secretary General , to be succeeded by fellow National Command member Munif al @-@ Razzaz . Razzaz was a Syrian @-@ born Jordanian who was not rooted enough in party politics to solve the crisis , even if under his command several joint meetings of the National and Regional Commands took place . Not longer after Aflaq 's loss of office , Hafiz , the Secretary of the Regional Command , changed his allegiance to support the National Command . While Hafiz was the de jure leader of Syria ( he held the offices of Regional Command secretary , Chairman of the Presidential Council , prime minister and commander @-@ in @-@ chief ) , it was Jadid , the Assistant Secretary General of the Regional Command , who was the de facto leader of Syria . 
