Background
Halqi was born in Jasim in the Daraa Governorate in 1964 into a Sunni Muslim family.
Halqi was born in Jasim in the Daraa Governorate in 1964 into a Sunni Muslim family.
Damascus University.
He was appointed to the position on 9 August 2012 after serving as Minister of Health. He earned a degree in medicine (MD) from the University of Damascus in 1987 and a master's degree in gynaecology and obstetrics again from the University of Damascus in 1991. He served as the director of health in Daraa, and in 2010, was appointed head of Syria's doctors.
He was appointed prime minister of Syria on 9 August 2012 by President Bashar Assad, after his predecessor Riyad Farid Hijab fled to Jordan and declared his allegiance to the Syrian opposition. In April 2013, Halqi survived an apparent assassination attempt by car bombing in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. The assassination attempt killed six people.
Halqi served as director of primary health care in Jasim from 1997 to 2000 and was secretary of the Daraa branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party from 2000 to 2004.