Future Syria Party rejects parliamentary elections as unfair

The transitional government in Syria is preparing to hold elections for what it calls the "People’s Assembly" on October 5, in what it described as a "decisive" step. However, the elections will not be held in Hasakah, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, or Swedia.

In this context, Future Syria Party Co-Chair Kawthar Doko stated that the Syrian people and women in particular had long aspired to build a democratic system after decades of authoritarian rule under the Ba’ath regime and 14 years of war and suffering.

She said: “The methods used by the transitional government in Damascus—from the so-called Victory Conference, to the constitutional declaration, and now the parliamentary elections have all failed to reflect the real will of the Syrian people and its diverse communities.”

Doko emphasized that the government's claim of allocating 20% representation to women in parliament is insufficient to meet the aspirations of Syrian women, who are striving for a democratic, pluralistic, decentralized, and free Syria that guarantees the rights of all women and communities.

She further noted that the transitional government in Damascus has consistently lacked the use of key concepts such as democracy, pluralism, freedom, and women's rights in its official discourse since coming to power.

Doko argued that the transitional government fears the will and strength of Syrian women, especially as it represents an ultra-conservative Islamist current.

The Co-Chair stressed the importance of unifying the ranks of Syrian women and standing up against the violations being committed by the Damascus transitional government.

She stated: “A constitution that does not represent women, and a state in which women’s voices are not heard, cannot be a legitimate state.”

Doko affirmed that women who have experienced true freedom in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, the Syrian coast, Suwayda, and Damascus, will not accept having their freedoms stripped again under the pretext of protecting their rights especially at a time when women’s struggles are gaining momentum across political, social, administrative, and military spheres.

She concluded by stressing that the Damascus transitional government cannot confine Syria’s cultural, national, and religious diversity within a narrowly written constitution drafted by handpicked individuals.

“Syria needs a new constitution that protects the rights of all its communities,” she said.

Notably, transitional Prime Minister Ahmad Al-Sharaa appoints one-third of parliament members and oversees the formation of electoral bodies through specially selected subcommittees this in the absence of an electoral law, which was abolished following the so-called “Victory Conference.” That conference centralized power in the hands of a single individual, echoing the practices of the former Ba’athist regime.

The United Nations has repeatedly stressed that any elections in Syria must be held within a comprehensive political process, under international supervision, and with the participation of all Syrians, both inside and outside the country. This implies that the broader Syrian population cannot truly choose their representatives under the planned electoral process.

These issues have sparked significant debate across political circles and among various political and civil actors that represent the majority of Syrians. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has rejected the elections, stating they ignore the legitimate rights of all communities, describing them as a "one-sided charade," and affirming that:

“Any electoral process that excludes national and political components is a recipe for failure.”

Residents of Swedia have also rejected the so-called “People’s Assembly” elections by staging protests, labeling the move as a “dictatorial step” by the Damascus transitional government.

Additionally, the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the diaspora issued a firm rejection of the elections, calling them illegitimate and merely a cover for appointments that do not reflect the will of the Syrian people.

ANHA