The head of an organization entrusted with overseeing the election process informed state media on Sunday that Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September.
Elections will be held from September 15 to September 20, according to Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, who spoke to state news agency SANA. Following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December due to a swift rebel attack, these will be the first events to be held under the new government.
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Ahmad al-Sharaa, the acting president, will appoint one-third of the 210 seats; the remaining seats will be chosen by election.
Another election committee member, Hassan al-Daghim, stated in a recent interview with the Erem News website that an electoral college will be established in every Syrian province to cast votes for the elected seats.
In March, al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that called for the creation of a People’s Committee to act as a makeshift parliament until general elections and the adoption of a real constitution—a process that may take years—are held.
The declaration of upcoming polls coincides with a growing rift in the nation’s opinion of the new Damascus government following sectarian violence in the southern province of Sweida earlier this month. Hundreds were murdered in the conflict, which also put Syria’s precarious postwar transition in jeopardy.
Tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious minority triggered the deadly hostilities that began two weeks ago.
Forces from the Syrian government stepped in, supposedly to put an end to the conflict, but in reality, they supported the clans. According to reports, some government fighters burnt and looted homes and killed Druze citizens. Israel stepped in and launched airstrikes against the Defense Ministry headquarters and government forces. Israel claimed to be taking action in support of the Druze minority.
