Syria’s Post-Assad Elections: What to Expect in This Historic Vote

Syria is on the brink of significant political transformation as it prepares to hold parliamentary elections. This event marks the first occasion since the ousting of Bashar Assad, the autocratic leader who dominated the country for over 50 years.

Syria’s Post-Assad Elections: What to Expect

The parliamentary elections are scheduled for Sunday. However, these elections will not unfold as a standard democratic process. Instead, most of the parliamentary seats will be voted on through an electoral college system, while a portion will be directly appointed.

Electoral Structure

• The People’s Assembly consists of 210 seats.
• Two-thirds of the seats will be filled by elected members, with one-third appointed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
• Around 6,000 electoral college members from 50 districts will participate in the vote.

The electoral colleges were set up, but elections in some regions, such as Sweida and parts of the northeast controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, have been postponed due to local tensions with the central government.

Voting Logistics

A total of 7,000 electoral college representatives were initially planned, but with delays, only about 120 seats are currently contested. Key districts like Aleppo and Damascus have varying numbers of electoral members participating.

• Aleppo: 700 electoral members for 14 seats.
• Damascus: 500 electoral members for 10 seats.

Absence of a Popular Vote

The interim authorities have stated that creating a reliable voter registry for a popular vote is unfeasible. Millions have been displaced due to nearly 14 years of civil conflict, complicating the voting logistics.

This parliament’s term will span 30 months. The goal is to lay the groundwork for future elections involving a popular vote. Despite some concerns about undemocratic practices, analysts argue that challenges in tracking the population justify the current approach.

Inclusivity Concerns

The issue of representation looms large. Women are mandated to comprise 20% of electoral college members, yet this does not assure their adequate representation as candidates.

• Women make up 14% of the 1,578 candidates on final lists.
• In some districts, female candidates account for 30-40% of total candidates.

Moreover, the absence of candidates from Druze-majority Sweida and Kurdish-controlled areas deepens worries about inclusive representation, especially against the backdrop of recent sectarian violence.

Potential for Future Reforms

The direct appointments by President al-Sharaa are touted as a chance to improve inclusivity in the legislative body. Nonetheless, ongoing disputes between local authorities and Damascus highlight the complexity of the political landscape moving forward.

As Syria heads into this pivotal election, the outcomes will serve as an important indicator of the interim government’s commitment to a more inclusive and democratic process.