Syrian writer, activist: Formalistic elections reflect disregard for country's unity, cohesion

On Sunday, the transitional government in Syria, within the areas under its control, began appointing members of its parliament under the guise of "People's Assembly Elections," despite widespread criticism of this procedure.

While these elections exclude all political forces and civil movements, including the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and على forces in Sweida, they also violate legal and human rights standards, as they were held in an atmosphere of authoritarianism and the imposition of figures who are entitled to elect candidates loyal to this government.

The Syrian writer and political activist Ali al-Amin al-Sweid told ANHA agency that "the insistence on proceeding with the selection of members of the People's Assembly as a step represents a move by the transitional government to confer a veneer of formalistic legitimacy on its presence in power, as an attempt to distance itself from its status as a de facto authority over part of Syria."

He added, "However, this measure, given that a third of Syria has fallen out of Damascus's control, can be considered as further disregard for Syria's unity and cohesion, or as a push towards its division and fragmentation, contrary to the government's claims."

Al-Sweid emphasized that if "the authorities had placed Syria's unity at the forefront of their priorities, they would have postponed the appointment procedures and amended the method of selecting members, making them through free elections, as happens in any democratic country in the world."

He concluded saying, "The authorities either do not understand the importance of the country's unity, or they are trying to remain in power, even if it only controls a quarter of Syria. In either case, the country will remain in a quagmire from which there is no hope of escaping anytime soon."

J.J

ANHA