Politicians in Tabqa emphasize necessity of implementing decentralization in Syria

For more than five decades, the Ba'ath Party ruled Syria with a centralized authoritarian regime, where power was concentrated in the capital, Damascus, while the peripheries and distant regions suffered from marginalization and exclusion. This approach led to tight control over political and economic decisions, creating a significant gap between citizens and the state, contributing to the escalation of crises and divisions within Syrian society.

Ahmad al-Khalaf: Returning to centralization means returning to the crisis.

In this context, the co-chair of the Future Syria Party Council in al-Tabqa region, Ahmad al-Khalaf, emphasized that the central system has proven its failure in achieving social justice, and that continuing to rely on it will bring Syria back into the cycle of previous crises.

Al-Khalaf said: "We, in the Future Syria Party, through our work with the Autonomous Administration, call for adopting a decentralized system in the new Syria. This model guarantees the rights of all components and allows all Syrians to be true partners in decision-making and managing their affairs concerning their beliefs and identity. Syria cannot return to centralization, as that simply means returning to the crisis again."

He added: "If a decentralized system is achieved in the future Syria, social justice will be realized, and all components will have the opportunity for actual political participation, which will enhance the concept of brotherhood among peoples and civil peace. However, if we revert to a centralized system, Syria will return to what it was, with only the names changing, while the policies remain the same, leading us towards more tyranny and marginalization."

Mona al-Dali:  Autonomous Administration is a Living Model of Successful Decentralization

For her part, Mona al-Dali, a member of the Future Syria Party Council in al-Tabqa canton, affirmed that the experience of the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria proves that decentralization can be a successful model of governance, especially in a multi-ethnic and multi-component country like Syria.

She explained that the AANES adopted the distribution of power between local and civil councils, which allowed for the representation of all segments of society and granted women and youth a central role in decision-making.

Mona al-Dali added: "If Syria wants to get out of its crisis, it must adopt this model and end the era of power monopoly by a small group in Damascus."

She pointed out that AANES represents a realistic political solution that can be an essential part of Syria's future, considering that a return to centralization means keeping the crises without real solutions.

Raja Abdul Rahim: Damascus must adopt decentralization to maintain the unity of the country.

As for the member of the General Council of the Democratic Union Party, Rasha Abdul Rahim, she emphasized that the implementation of decentralization does not mean the division of Syria; on the contrary, it is the only way to preserve the unity of the country and enhance its stability.

She said: "There are those who try to portray decentralization as a threat to the unity of Syria, but in reality, this system is what will preserve the country, as it ensures the participation of all components without exclusion or marginalization. The central system was one of the main reasons for the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, because there was no real representation of the different components and communities. As for decentralization, it allows everyone to participate in governance, thereby enhancing the sense of belonging and stability."

Abdul Rahim urged the Damascus authority to benefit from the experience of autonomous administration, saying: "If the Damascus authority adopts a truly decentralized system, Syria will be able to overcome many crises. However, if it continues with the central approach, it will be a repetition of past mistakes, and we will find ourselves facing a state of continuous instability."

In conclusion, the politicians called for the generalization of the self-administration model across all of Syria, describing it as a democratic model that achieves justice, ensures pluralism, and establishes a more stable and just system of governance.

T/ Satt.

ANHA