First Election to Be Held in Syria Since Assad’s Fall
The Chronify
For the First Time Since Assad's Fall, Syria to Hold an Election But Without Direct Public Voting
Syria is preparing to hold its first election since the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. However, the country’s citizens will not vote directly. Instead, an electoral college or electoral council has already been formed through indirect voting.
This council will select two-thirds of the 210 parliamentary seats, while the remaining members will be appointed by the interim president, Ahmed al-Shara.
After 13 years of brutal civil war, Assad was ousted 10 months ago by rebel groups led by Shara. Following this historic event, a new government is set to be established for the first time in the country’s recent history.
However, many voters view this indirect election process as undemocratic.
In March, a constitutional declaration was issued outlining the governance under Shara’s leadership. The declaration emphasizes Islamic law but also guarantees women’s rights and freedom of expression. Critics, however, fear this could lead to increased power for extremist groups like HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and other radical factions.
