Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since al-Assad’s fall

The head of a body charged with organizing the election process stated that Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September.

Elections will take place between September 15 and September 20, according to Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections chairman Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, who was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Following the demise of former president Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December, they will be the first to take place under the new government of the nation.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president, will choose the majority of the 210 seats, with the remainder being elected.

Hassan al-Daghim, a member of the elections committee, stated in an interview with the Erem News site that an electoral college would be established in each of Syria’s provinces to hold elections.

increasingly divided

A People’s Committee was established in March to serve as an interim parliament until a permanent constitution is approved and general elections are held, a process that could take years.

Following the erupting sectarian violence in the southern province of Suwayda earlier this month, the country is increasingly divided over the new authorities in Damascus.

In addition to causing hundreds of casualties, the fighting threatened to end Syria’s fragile postwar transition.

The violent clashes started two weeks ago when armed Bedouin tribe members and members of the Druze religious minority were kidnapped for their lives.

Syrian government forces reportedly intervened to put an end to the fighting, but they actually sided with the clans.

Some government forces reportedly burned and looted homes while carrying out executions of Druze civilians.