Political figures criticize Damascus’ centralized approach, support Autonomous Administration

Discussions continue within Syrian political and social circles regarding the country’s future, amid growing proposals for democratic decentralization as an alternative to central governance.

 While the transitional government in Damascus persists with its centralized approach, representatives of local communities emphasize that decentralization offers a political solution ensuring rights and equitable representation for all groups.

Maryam Beto Swalka, an Assyrian-Syriac citizen from Tell Tamer, considers decentralization the only hope for preserving Syria’s pluralism. She stated, “As Assyrian-Syriac communities, we seek genuine guarantees for our cultural, religious, and political rights. Experience has shown that centralization marginalizes minorities, while democratic decentralization allows balanced participation and protects Syria’s diversity from erasure and neglect.”

She added that the transitional government in Damascus repeats past mistakes by clinging to centralization, while reality necessitates a system that respects local specificities and fosters participatory democracy, making all citizens feel like partners in the nation.

Abdul Karim Abdo, a Kurdish citizen displaced from occupied Serekaniye and currently residing in Tell Tamer, emphasized that decentralization is not just an option but a necessity. He said, “Decentralization allows each community to manage its affairs according to its cultural and social specificities, within a unified national framework. Past experiences with centralization have failed, marginalizing the Kurdish population. Today, democratic decentralization ensures a united and democratic Syria.”

He criticized the transitional government’s stance in Damascus, stating that insisting on centralization reproduces authoritarianism, which no responsible community can accept. Abdo noted that the Autonomous Administration model in NE Syria demonstrates that local councils and communes can manage affairs more effectively than any central authority.

Sana Abdo Al-Hammoud, an Arab citizen, explained that decentralization could strengthen Arab participation in political decision-making. She added, “Centralization has marginalized everyone, not only the Kurdish people. Even Arabs had little real influence in shaping policies. We now seek fair participation, which decentralization allows.”

She expressed concerns about misconceptions labeling decentralization as division, emphasizing the need for it to function as a framework for fair governance within a united state. She concluded by criticizing the transitional government in Damascus, noting that insisting on centralization ignores reality and perpetuates the same mistakes that led Syria to its current collapse.

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ANHA