Appointing members of Syrian transitional government's parliament begins

The transitional government announced on Sunday morning that it had opened polling stations for members of the electoral bodies to appoint members of the "parliament of the transitional government in Syria."

These "elections," announced by the transitional government, come amid deep political and societal divisions and the absence of a national consensus on the country's future.

Despite the government's attempts to present them as a step toward "rebuilding legitimacy," these "elections" have sparked a wave of criticism due to their legal and political flaws.

Legal foundations weaken legitimacy

"Parliamentary elections" are held in areas controlled by the transitional government in Syria amid the absence of criteria that guarantee full representation of all components of the population in its electoral law. This is particularly true given the continued large electoral district system at "the governorate" level, political party activity remains suspended, and the indirect electoral system may result in the denial of representation for many parties to join the council.

The transitional government made hasty amendments to the electoral law without consulting the national forces or holding a popular vote.

Observers point out that Ahmed al-Sharaa's decree ratifying the interim electoral system is merely a cosmetic change, while the country remains mired in deep political and economic crises that render these elections a mere procedure devoid of any democratic substance.

The interim electoral system also reflects a significant concentration of executive power, with Ahmed al-Sharaa appointing a third of the council's members and overseeing the formation of electoral bodies through selected subcommittees. This reduces parliament to a mere facade and increases its dominance over the legislative institution.

Many Syrian opposition circles considered these amendments a "reproduction of authoritarianism," stating that "unilaterally drafted laws cannot produce legitimacy; rather, they establish the dominance of one party at the expense of the rest of the Syrian people." In this context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights asserted that "any elections held without a comprehensive social contract cannot be considered legitimate or representative of the Syrian people."

Nor were any independent judicial body or international organizations such as the United Nations or the European Union allowed to oversee their organization. The United Nations has repeatedly emphasized that "elections in Syria must be held within the framework of a comprehensive political process, under international supervision, and with the participation of all Syrians inside and outside the country."

Given the complex demographic and logistical conditions, including the presence of millions of displaced persons and refugees and the lack of identification documents, the Supreme Committee resorted to an indirect election mechanism that relied on electoral bodies appointed by the transitional government without consultation.

Elections without Political Foundations

This electoral process does not concern areas with major parties, such as the Democratic Autonomous Administration, nor all political and civil movements that represent the majority of Syrians. The Autonomous Administration described the elections as a "one-sided farce" and emphasized that "any electoral process that does not include all ethnic and political components is a recipe for failure."

The residents of Sweida and its countryside reject these "elections," describing them as "an authoritarian move by the government in Damascus." The Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and Abroad declared its categorical rejection of the elections, considering them devoid of any legitimacy and a cover for an appointment process that does not reflect the will of the Syrian people.

The country also remains divided due to the policies pursued by the central government in Damascus, as these elections will not be held in North-East Syria and Sweida.

In addition, many Syrian regions are still occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries. Therefore, it is certain that the elections will be held in these occupied areas in a symbolic manner, with interference from these factions. Numerous reports indicate that some candidates have paid huge sums of money, up to $200,000, to obtain membership in the People's Assembly.

As a result, these elections will be limited geographically and demographically. According to many observers, "no elections can be representative as long as nearly half of the Syrian people remain outside the political process, as refugees, displaced persons, and the excluded."

Expected consequences

The new "parliament," whose members are expected to be appointed, lacks national acceptance, threatening to deepen divisions and disrupt the path to a solution and national consensus among Syrian forces that view themselves as marginalized and excluded from the political process. This clearly contradicts the transitional government's claims regarding its willingness to negotiate with Syrian forces, particularly representatives from North and East Syria and Sweida.

It is also unlikely that these elections will receive serious recognition from the European Union or the United Nations, which will weaken the transitional government's position in any future negotiations.

ANHA