Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since Assad's ouster

2025-07-27 20:55:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections under new authorities in September, the head of the body responsible for the electoral process announced on Sunday, confirming the development to the state news agency SANA.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the High Commission for the Elections of the People's Assembly, said the elections will be held between September 15 and 20. These will be the first elections since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown in December after a rapid offensive by rebel groups.

A third of the 210 seats in parliament will be appointed by interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, while the rest will be elected through a vote.

In an interview with Erem News, another member of the electoral commission, Hassan al-Daghim, explained that an electoral college will be established in each province of Syria to vote for candidates.

According to the interim constitution signed in March by President al-Sharaa, a People's Committee is envisaged, which will serve as a temporary parliament until a new constitution is adopted and general elections are held - a process that is expected to take years.

The announcement of the elections comes at a sensitive time for the country, which is experiencing deep divisions over its approach to the new authorities in Damascus. The beginning of the month was marked by fierce sectarian clashes in the southern province of Sweida, where hundreds of people were killed, threatening to destabilize the country's fragile post-war transition.

The clashes began after mutual kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious community. Government forces formally intervened to stop the violence, but reportedly sided with the clans. Some regime soldiers reportedly executed Druze civilians and burned down homes.

Israel intervened through airstrikes against government forces and the Defense Ministry building, stating that it was acting to protect the Druze minority in Syria./ REL