Damascus – Syria is conducting its first parliamentary elections on Sunday, ten months after insurgent groups, led by Ahmed al-Shara—the current president—defeated Bashar al-Assad, ending a brutal civil war, reports 24brussels.
Experts view the elections as a significant step toward democracy following decades of authoritarian rule by the Assad family, which has maintained strict control over the country for over fifty years.
How are Syria’s first elections after the war being conducted?
The government established an electoral committee to oversee the election process, appointing regional bodies responsible for selecting members of local electoral councils that vetted candidates.
Approximately 6,000 members will select from 1,578 candidates at regional electoral colleges, with polling stations closing at 5 PM local time. While two-thirds of the representatives will be elected through this process, the remaining seats will be filled by Syria’s interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who will appoint a third of the 210 members of Parliament directly.
The election will not be conducted nationwide, as the government cites significant administrative challenges following the end of the civil war. A considerable number of citizens lack identification and remain displaced from their homes.
The northeastern regions of Raqqa and Hasakah, controlled by a Kurdish-led administration, will be excluded from the voting. Additionally, the entire southern province of Sweida will not participate in the elections.
Why are many former Assad allies disqualified from running?
The electoral committee has disqualified several individuals from running for Parliament, including former supporters of the Assad regime unless they had resigned or defected. This includes many former parliamentarians.
The disqualification list extends to individuals with criminal records, those under 25 years old, those involved with terrorist organizations, and individuals who have promoted separatism or foreign intervention. Candidates who did not have Syrian citizenship prior to 2011, the year the civil war began, have also been excluded.
When were the last parliamentary elections held?
The last legislative elections in Syria took place on April 13, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflict, with only a 33.17% voter turnout among eligible voters in approximately 70% of Syrian territory. The pro-government National Progressive Front and its allied parties maintained a legislative majority, with the Ba’ath Party continuing its control of the People’s Council.
In that election, the National Progressive Front captured 183 of the 250 parliamentary seats, with the Ba’ath Party securing 66.8% of the seats and thus retaining its dominant influence. Independent candidates won 67 seats.